REVIEWS AND CRITICISMS. 61 



metrical Flowers, Coalescence and Adnation, Wind and Insect 

 Pollination, Self-pollination, Anthotaxy, Metamorphosis, Fruits, 

 Fleshy Fruits, Dry Dehiscent Fruits, Dry Indehiscent Fruits, Seed 

 Dispersal by Animals, by Wind, by Water, Spore Reproduction. 



There are two appendices, one containing suggestions to students 

 and the other to teachers. In tlie latter, the author states that the 

 book was written perhaps more for the teacher than for the pupil. 

 The truth of this is evident throughout the book. In fact, one 

 questions the necessity of putting the book into tlie hands of the 

 pupil ; for with a really competent teacher and with a class not too 

 large, each pupil would make his own book, illustrated with his own 

 drawings, containing his own definitions and descriptions and full of 

 original thoughts for the reasons of things. It is, however, doubtful 

 to what extent and witli what success this plan can be carried out, 

 since neither teachers, students, nor conditions are ideal. The 

 labor of constantly and carefully examining note-books with large 

 classes becomes almost impossible where work presses and time is 

 limited, as is the case in most of our grammar and high schools. 

 The need of careful revision of note-books, too, is imperative; for 

 only in that way can the teacher learn to what extent the student 

 has assimilated what has been given him. 



As a reaction against two extremes the book is notable. The old 

 idea that botany consisted in learning the names of plants, and the 

 new idea that it is to be learned only through a compound micro- 

 scope, are absolutely ignored. Field work, too, receives very little 

 attention, though it is in the field, certainly, where the plant is best 

 studied as an individual. In fact, a laboratory manual, at its best, 

 aims only to show how to work in the field and to provoke thought 

 in regard to the phenomena of plant life. 



The index is remarkable. Everything is indexed under every 

 possible head, so that not to find what is sought seems utterly im- 

 possible. 



The list of books given in the second appendix, under each sub- 

 ject, will be found especially helpful to teachers who have not the 

 opportunities of consulting libraries to find out the best books for 

 themselves; while to those who have such advantages, the list is sug- 

 gestive, so that much time and effort are thereby saved in seeking for 

 the best. — Alice Eastwood. 



