1892. } Current Literature. 97 
on pages 82 and 83 which is over a page long and contains 339 words, 
equalling about three-fourths of a page of the GazEeTrE. Those cov- 
ering half a page are frequent. These long sentences seem to be con- 
structed on the same principle as the mnemonic word-chains; the thing 
with which the writer began reminded him of something, that of some- 
thing else, and so on until by the time the period is reached one finds 
that he is talking of something rather remote from that with which he 
began. Here is a sentence which sadly needs mending: “It must be 
understood that potassium is not the only factor necessary for the 
formation of starch; but if this substance is absent, even if all other 
conditions are favorable, as in the case of iron and chlorophyll so also 
with starch which contains no potassium, the latter being necessary 
for promoting. the chemical changes resulting in the formation of 
Starch.” p. 56. 
We fear also that Mr. Massee’s generalizations will be found much 
too sweeping. The voice is the voice of Massee, but the reasoning is 
the reasoning of Grant Allen. It is taking, but it is not sound. 
Making a charitable guess we should say that Mr. Massee had been 
persuaded to allow his lectures to be printed without having or taking 
sufficient time to revise them properly. If these popular books were 
to be read only by specialists there would be little mischief in erro- 
neous or faulty statements. But no book demands so much of an 
author as one that is prepared for readers who are not able to separate 
the wheat from the chaff. ‘This book needs a little winnowing, an 
the grains of truth should be thoroughly brushed before they go 
through the mill of the « general reader.” 
Minor Notices. 
; THE VERY INTERESTING address of Dr. George L. Goodale as retir- 
ng President of the A. A. A. S. on the useful plants of the future, and 
sone of the possibilities of economic botany, has been distributed in 
Teprints from the Proceedings of the association. 
.. = MALTREATMENT of our shade trees and the diseases which are 
likely to follow the mechanical injuries which are inflicted upon them 
by thoughtless drivers, ignorant trimmers and ruthless linemen, formed 
the Subject of an address before the Massachusetts Horticultural So- 
aes by Dr. W. G. Farlow, which has recently been reprinted from the 
“oceedings of the society. The society was urged to make an effort 
tO secure legislation which should make compulsory the placing of 
8uards around trees and the entrusting of the care of trees in public 
grounds only to persons specially trained for the purpose. The 
AZETTE would bid such efforts God-speed. 
Vol. XVII.—No. 3, 
