270 BOTANICAL GAZETTE [ SEPTEMBER 
raised, however, whether this recognition of all easily separable groups may 
not suppress too much the fact of larger groupings which any natural scheme 
must involve. Perhaps it is not possible to carry out one purpose well 
without distorting something else, and it becomes a question of judgment as 
to what must be sacrificed. 
Every species is illustrated, and when one is reminded that about 4,000 
species of pteridophytes and spermatophytes are found within the region — 
covered, the undertaking seems enormous. The illustrations are set in the 
text, opposite the description, and in most cases three species fill a page. The 
figures are excellent and clearly printed, showing just the features needed for 
discrimination, and eliminating all the unnecessary “picture” element. In 
the first volume the figures number 1,425, and more than three-fourths of them 
are of species that have never been figured before. 
In such a work the question of nomenclature is a mere incident. It need 
only be remarked that the nomenclature is a consistent carrying out of the 
principles enunciated in what is known as the Rochester code and exemplified 
in the “Check-List,” and that its embodiment in a work of this character will 
go far towards establishing it. The prominence given to synonymy easily 
offsets the inconvenience of new names. 
To this first volume Professor Underwood has contributed the text on the 
Pteridophyta, Mr. F. V. Coville that of the Juncacez, Dr. John K. Small that 
of the Polygonacee and Euphorbiacee. Mr. Arthur Hollick has had super 
vision of the drawings in general, and Professor F. Lamson-Scribner of those 
of Graminez. The work of the late Dr. Morong is also seen in the groups t0 
which he paid chief attention, many of which are included in the present 
volume, 
When all the assistance has been accounted for, however, the fact remains 
that it represents an enormous amount of hard and patient work on the past 
of the authors. It is to be hoped that the gratitude which is their due will 
find its expression in the immediate exhaustion of the first edition. Certain! : 
no American botanist, who has any occasion to determine plants, can 
to be without this greatest help since the original publication % 
seem to make this well-nigh impossible.—J. M.C. 
