BOOK REVIEWS 119 



it is invaluable to the student of our trees native to northeastern 

 North America. 



General Science, Bertha M. Clark. 363 pages. American 

 Book Co. $0.80. 



A text book in general science is a rather new thing and 

 correspondingly difficult to write. This difficulty arises main- 

 ly from the abundance of material and the doubt as to which 

 should be excluded. The fields of all the sciences are open for 

 use and as yet there is no common consent regarding the ap- 

 propriateness of particular materials, such as prevails in some 

 measure in the specialized sciences. 



In this case the material has been selected largely from 

 chemistry and physics. Only four chapters out of a total of 

 thirty-five, are principally biological, and physiography seems 

 not to be represented in any important way. The sequence of 

 chapters is largely that which obtains in texts of physics. The 

 chapters are in general well written but rather brief averaging 

 less than ten pages to the chapter. 



While the book cannot be accepted as an ideal text in general 

 science, it will serve a useful purpose. It is adapted to use in the 

 first year of the high school or in the upper grades of the ele- 

 mentary school. — W. L. Eikenberry. 



Agronomy, A Course in Practical Gardening for High 

 Schools, Willard N. Clute. P. xvi.+296. Ginn & Co. 



This book can almost be read by its illustrations. They are 

 numerous, well selected and clear. The text is well written and 

 is a brief, well motivated presentation. If the teacher will use 

 the practical exercises appended to the chapters first and the 

 text as supplementary reading the book will serve an excellent 

 purpose. 



The early chapters on the soil seem particularly good. There 

 follow several on the organization and activities of the plant. 

 Then Chapter IX is on Garden Making, X Tillage, XII Weeds. 

 Propagation, Pruning, Decorative Planting, Plant Diseases and 

 Pests are other chapter headings. Plant Breeding is given four- 

 teen pages ; the Origin of Specie, five. It is questionable if even 

 a high school senior can gain a clear notion of the present 

 status of the origin of species in so brief a treatment. 



