LITERARY AND BIOGRAPHICAL. 



39 



in the writing and reading at meetings 



b\ all children doing Mich language- 

 work, of brief papers on natural history 

 subjects thereby inducing friendship 



for forest, bird and wild flower pres- 

 ervati< >n. 



A bureau of information, through 

 whom questions regarding 1 nature may 

 be answered, is composed of men and 

 women, familiar with various branches 

 of science, who, like all others connect- 



ed in any manner with conducting the 

 work give their services without return 

 apart from the joy which comes to 

 every giver who sacrifices self for a 

 cause. 



For the courtesy permitting this 

 department representing The La Rue 

 Holmes League work the directors owe 

 a debt of appreciation to The Guide TO 

 Nature. 



" rr it 11 ii ii il u il 11 lr n n n ii n i> g n n g i 



IlTERARY 



BIOGRAPHICAL 



Quailology. The Domestication, Propaga- 

 tion, Care and Treatment of Wild Quail 

 in Confinement. Together with Natural 

 History Notes, Letters from Breeders 

 < and a Digest of Game Laws. By Harry 

 Wallas Kerr. Little Sioux, Iowa: The 

 Taxiderm Company. (For sale by 

 Wenz & Mackensen, Yardley, Pennsyl- 

 vania.) 



The author makes this remarkable State- 

 ment : 



"The quail is easily raised, costs very 

 little to feed, is the healthiest, hardiest, 

 cleanliest, and most prolific bird of the 

 poultry yard, free from contagious diseases 

 and brings a good price on any market." 



If this is true, it is a wonder that the 

 quail has not become a common domesti- 

 cated bird. The book contains many illus- 

 trations, good descriptions and contribu- 

 tions of experiences from various breeders. 



One Hundred Lessons in Elementary Agri- 

 culture. A Manual and Text of Ele- 

 mentary Agriculture for Rural Schools. 

 By Aretas W. Nolan, A. B., Professor of 

 Horticulture, Forestry and Economic 

 Entomology, West Virginia University. 

 Morgantown, West Virginia: The Acme 

 Publishing Company. 



The author is an efficient teacher and 

 horticulturist. He has the right spirit. 

 Therefore he has made a success of his 

 work in simplifying in this book the sub- 

 ject matter, materials and methods usually 

 presented in text-books of agriculture. The 

 author is of the opinion that elementary 

 agriculture should not be taught below 

 the sixth grade. 



An entire chapter with three illustrations 

 is devoted to the Sachs nutrient tablets as 

 supplied by "The Guide to Nature." The 

 book contains much of interest to the gen- 

 eral naturalist. 



Pheasants. Their Natural History and 

 Practical Management. By W. B. Teget- 

 meier. London: Horace Cox, "The 

 Field" Office Bream's Buildings, E. C. 

 (For sale by Wenz & Mackensen, Yard- 

 ley, Pennsylvania.) 



The natural history of the pheasants, 

 their food, habits, nesting, etc., are well 

 presented. The illustrations are attractive 

 and expressive. One important merit of the 

 book is that it combines ornithological re- 

 search with practical experience. Then, 

 too, it is readable and interesting to any 

 lover of birds. 



Window Gardening. With illustrations from 

 photographs. By Herman B. Dorner. 

 Indianapolis, Indiana: The Bobbs-Merrill 

 Company. 



In this book such cultural directions are 

 given as will enable the inexperienced to 

 overcome most of the difficulties which arise 

 in the growing of plants in the window 

 garden. The directions are equally appli- 

 cable to the small conservatory. In fact, 

 about the only criticism that can be made 

 is that the directions apply too much to the 

 general and not enough specifically co the 

 scope indicated by the title of the book. The 

 illustrations are chiefly of ordinary plants 

 in pots. It is to be regretted that more was 

 not shown of special fixtures for window 

 gardening. For example, why didn't the 

 author work out and show an attached 

 outside window conservatory? There is 

 need of some one to provide such 

 plans and some one to put them on 

 the market in various styles at popu- 

 lar prices. Who will supply "window 

 greenhouses?" The amateur should have 

 a source of supply for such fixtures just 

 as readily as can be purchased bird houses 

 or chicken coops for the back yard. 



