136 THE AMERICAN BOTANIST 



though the book does not appear to be a large one, the text 

 runs to nearly four hundred pages. To the reviewer the ar- 

 rangement of the subject matter seems to indicate that it was 

 rather hastily put together and would profit by a more careful 

 and connected arrangement. Too much emphasis is placed on 

 recitations regarding subjects about which the pupil can have 

 no first hand knowledge. Such directions as "Discuss the 

 culture of black pepper" are out of place in a book intended for 

 the farmers of America. In agricultural teaching there ought 

 to be a minimum of reciting and a maximum of doing. Such 

 practical exercises as are included are very good but the ques- 

 tions on the chapters are too indefinite for the pupils for which 

 the book is intended. The book, however, will contribute its 

 full share toward the teacher's equipment. It is well illus- 

 trated and shows a wider range of topics than is found in most 

 books of like character. 



"Elements of Agriculture" is the title of another text de- 

 signed to advance the teaching of agriculture in secondary 

 schools. It is written by G. F. Warren and published by the 

 Macmillan Co. In contents it is essentially like other books 

 on the same subject but takes up the topics in a different way 

 beginning with chapters dealing with the improvement of ani- 

 mals and plants, the propagation of plants, plant food, the soil, 

 etc. The latter half of the book is devoted to animal hus- 

 bandry. The greatest difficulty a teacher must experience in 

 attempting to use this work is the impossibility of using it all. 

 There are more than 400 pages of text in which numerous 

 laboratory experiments are called for and in addition there 

 are extensive lists for collateral reading. The author covers 

 too much ground and does not always confine himself to gen- 

 eral principles. The work on special crops could well be omit- 

 ted or included in a later course. The book, however, is one 

 of the best we have seen. The directions for laboratory work 

 are at times a bit indefinite, but the questions on the lessons 



