1904] CURRENT LITERATURE ; 309 
choice of a suitable location for the laboratory to the two men who know so 
well the ecological and other features of our deserts. 
The report of this advisory board embraces an account of the journey 
along the Mexican border in search of a suitablesite. There are twenty-nine 
fine photographic reproductions of typical desert landscapes, representing 
not only the features of the vegetation about Tucson, but also the more 
interesting ecological characteristics of the other deserts, which were visited, 
viz., the Tularosa desert of New Mexico, with its unique gypsum sand dunes; 
the deserts in the neighborhood of Torresand Guaymas, Mexico; the Colorado 
desert about Salton, Cal.; and the Grand Cajfion of the Colorado in Arizona. 
In deciding upon Tucson for a laboratory site, regard was had for four 
requirements which an ideal site should possess: a distinct desert climate and 
flora, a flora that is rich and varied, accessibility, and habitability. In addi- 
tion to these advantages, Tucson is the seat of the state university and 
agricultural experiment station, and its citizens cooperated enthusiastically in 
the enterprise—a matter of no small moment. - 
- The chapter on the plant life of American deserts is introduced by a con- 
sideration of their meteorological and soil features; the most interesting 
table here is the one which gives the ratio between precipitation and evapora- 
tion. Instructive maps and soil analyses also illuminate this section. 
MacDougal’s experiments on transpiration and temperature, which were con- 
ducted in the Arizona deserts near Flagstaff in 1898, are also included, and 
suggest one of the fruitful lines of investigation which the new laboratory will 
make possible. Bae 
The report concludes with an excellent bibliography of desert literature, 
prepared by the resident investigator, Dr. W. A. Can The references 
are grouped under four heads: general treatises, references relating toclimate, 
references relating to soil, and references relating to water. This bibliog- 
raphy will prove of immense assistance to investigators at the laboratory, 
and to students of similar problems everywhere. 
While one cannot predict the exact place which the new laboratory is to 
occupy in botanical research, it is our right to expect great things, particu- 
larly in physiology and ecology, in which investigators are coming more and 
more to feel the need of field experiments. We may not hope to torture a 
desert plant into revealing its secrets to usin our laboratories and greenhouses, 
but it may unfold the mysteries of its life to those who live with it day by day 
In its own haunts. It is likely too that morphologists and taxonomists will 
find the Desert Laboratory of much help.— H. C. COWLES. 
Plant chemistry. 
“THIS BOOK? is the outgrowth of instruction in che 
School of Agriculture of the University of Minnesota.” It is intended for 
12mo. pp. xvii + 
mistry given in the 
*SNYDER, Harry, The chemistry of plant and animal life. 
’ 
406. New York City: The Macmillan Company. 1903. $1.40. 
