May 7, 1914| 
NATURE 
237 
endangered; and the authors write so clearly that 
we fear the pupils will actually know that a jet 
of geometry has pierced the algebra bulkhead. 
But we must not let amusement at these foibles 
hide the real excellence of the book. As is to be 
expected from the ability of its authors, the book 
is one of the best of its kind. As signs of their 
good judgment we may mention that long multi- 
plication and long division are marked for omission 
on a first reading, and that in graphs statistical 
curves come first. 
We do not understand why the authors should 
say that 3°5 is nearer to 4 than to 3. If words have 
any meaning, either 3 or 4 may be given as the 
“nearest integer to 3°5.” 
(3) Barnard and Child’s “Key” is clearly and 
concisely written, printed in very good type and 
nicely set out, and (so far as our sampling shows) 
correct. The good appearance is increased by 
appropriate use of the solidus, a symbol which is 
used by remarkably few writers in proportion to 
its real: value. 
(4) Prof. Adams’s book contains in concise form 
and on the whole well-expressed all that the sur- 
veyor can possibly need for work in the town and 
in the country, for engineering or for railway 
work. We are sorry to see that the recurring 
decimal is still in use (p. 161). In the appendix, 
some questions (e.g., 94, 166, 169) contain refer- 
ences to matter that is not supplied; it would be 
better to omit such questions altogether. 
(5) The Practical Science consists of suitably 
chosen experiments, the printer’s type is pleasing, 
and, except in the introductory chapter, the head- 
ings stand out effectively. The book covers heat, 
mechanics, electricity, and a number of miscel- 
laneous things, and the student who carries out 
the experiments will have a good elementary equip- 
ment. The treatment of friction and the funicular 
polygon deserves special praise; the friction treated 
is kinetic, which for engineers is more important 
than static. The text is in general clear, but 
here and there it is condensed to the verge of un- 
intelligibility. The references to the diagrams 
should be clearer, and the lettering of the diagrams 
be made to correspond to the text. Numerical 
results should be calculated to a suitable number of 
significant figures, and not left in a form involving 
the signs of multiplication, division, and square 
root. 
With a little care in revision, the next edition 
should be really valuable. 
(6) The idea of the Experimental Arithmetics is 
excellent. The pupil trained in this experimental 
way will obtain a grasp of arithmetical operations 
incomparably greater than was possible for the 
average pupil in the bookish days. And the idea 
NO. .23923, -ViOt. 163 | 
is well carried out by experiments to be performed 
indoors and out of doors on the measurement of 
length, area, volume, weight, and angle. 
Some secondary schools follow the rule “every 
lesson an English lesson,” and we should like to 
see this rule adopted in elementary schools. When 
that day comes, the language of these books wiil 
need to be given greater precision; for the present 
time the language is sufficiently clear. 
1D. BL M. 
BOTANICAL CATALOGUES AND MANUALS. 
(1) Catalogue of Hardy Trees and Shrubs Grow- 
ing at Albury Park, Surrey. Compiled by A. B. 
Jackson. Pp. viii+66. (London: West, New- 
man and Co., 1913.) 
(2) Lowson’s Text-book of Botany. 
edition. Adapted by M. Willis. 
face by, Dre Cx Willis: 
(London: W. B. Clive, 1913.) 
net. 
(3) Coconut Cultivation and Plantation Machin- 
ery. By H. Lake Coghlan and J. W. Hinchley. 
‘Pp. xii+128+x plates. (London: Crosby 
Lockwood and Son, 1914.) Price 3s. 6d. net. 
(4) Genera of British Plants: with the Addition of 
the Characters of the Genera. By H. G. Carter. 
Pp. xviiit+121. (Cambridge: University Press, 
igis7)\)  Ericer4ss net. 
(5) The Story of Plant Life in the British Isles. 
Introductory volume. By A. R. Horwood. Pp. 
xiv + 254 + plates. (London: J. and A. 
Churchill, 1914.) Price 6s. 6d. net. 
(6) Catalogue of the Plants Collected by Mr. and 
Mrs. P. A. Talbot in the Oban District, South 
Nigeria. By Dr. A. B: Rendle, E. G. Baker, 
H. F. Wernham, S. Moore, and others. Pp. 
x+157+17 plates. (London: British Museum 
(Natural History); Longmans and Co., 1913.) 
Price 9s: 
(7) Plant Physiology. By Dr. Ludwig Jost. Au- 
thorised English translation by R. J. Harvey 
Gibson. Supplement. Pp. 168. (Oxford: 
Clarendon Press, 1913.) Price 2s. 6d. net. 
(8) Plant Life. By T. H. Russell. Pp. 71. (Birm- 
ingham: Cornish Brothers, Ltd., n.d.) Price 
25.) Od. NEE 
(1) R. JACKSON’S catalogue of the trees 
at Albury is an interesting document, 
especially when considered in comparison with the 
somewhat ‘similar list compiled by him of the 
trees and shrubs at Syon. The value of the 
Albury list is enhanced by notes about particular 
trees and details as to the dates of introduction 
of the various species, characteristics of particular 
plants, uses, hardiness, etc. It is of interest to 
Indian 
With a pre- 
Pp. xii+6o2. 
Price 6s. 6d. 
