1895.] Current Literature. 235 
crude of his books because it was made in an incredibly short time; 
it would have been wise therefore for the reviser to give more atten- 
tion to unifying its descriptions and because of their brevity to make 
sure that contrasted characters were used in related species as well as 
in section characters. In both these points the original was conspicu- 
ously defective and the revision therein is not materially better, as 
will be evident to any one by even casual comparison. Considerable 
space might have been saved also in remarks under each genus by 
condensing the explanation of the name. It may be objected that 
these changes would have made the book mechanical and have elim- 
inated the peculiar happy touches characteristic of Dr. Gray. Yet 
they are just such changes as Dr. Gray would probably have made 
himself; and in a manual one expects formality. 
In typography a marked improvement has been made in indicating 
indigenous and exotic species and horticultural forms by special type. 
Though having the same sized “body” as the first edition the type of 
the new book has a larger and clearer face and makes a fair page. It 
is quite certain that the revision and extension of this book will insure 
for it a new lease of life and a still wider use. We wish the Herba- 
num whose property it is a large income from its sale. 
Minor Notices. 
THE SECOND EDITION of Spalding’s “Introduction to Botany”? has 
recently been issued. It has been improved by the addition of achapter 
on fungi, and a glossary and index. There have been some minor 
changes made here and there, but the arrangement and mode of treat- 
ment have not been altered. We canrecommend this edition even more 
heartily than we did the first. It contains too much work for the 
ordinary high school, but the teacher who can not from it select a 
suitable course, or who finds it “too advanced” for his class may well 
question his fitness to teach botany as it ought to be taught in a high 
school laboratory. 
THE “BusHBERG CaTALoGuE” is by no means merely a trade cata- 
logue, but is widely and most favorably known as a comprehensive and 
reliable manual of grape culture. So important is it, particularly in its 
descriptive list of varieties that earlier editions were translated into 
French, Italian, German and several other languages. The fourth 
*Spatpinc, V. M.—Guide to the study of common plants, an introduction 
to botany. Ed. 2, 12 mo. pp. xxiii + 294. Boston, D. C. Heath & Co. 1895. 
