1897 | CURRENT LITERATURE 123 
Chapman’s Flora.$ 
THE name of Dr. Chapman has been closely associated with the flora of 
our southern states for three quarters of a century, a record of botanical 
activity that is almost without parallel. The new edition of his manual is 
printed from new plates, and the two supplements of the second edition have 
been incorporated in the body of the work. The conditions under which the 
author has been compelled to work have prevented the introduction of many 
changes that would naturally be expected in a new edition. The present 
volume is essentially the same that the others have been, and this fact of 
course makes it seem very conservative. It is hardly to be expected that 
matters of nomenclature and citation could have received critical attention, 
as they would have involved an amount of labor that the venerable author 
could not afford. But it is a distinct disappointment that the many new 
forms recently described by others from the region of the manual have not 
been sifted and included. It is a good thing to bring material together, and 
that is the chief purpose of a manual as distinct from a monograph. This 
omission will work to the disadvantage of the ordinary collector and student 
of the southern flora who does not have access to the scattered descriptions 
contained in periodical publications. 
However, Dr. apman’s manual still remains the only manual of this 
region, and is certainly indispensable. Botanists have a deep feeling of 
gratitude to the venerable author who has laid them under obligation for so 
many years.—J. M 
The principles of fruit growing.® 
THIs is the comprehensive title of the last issued volume of the “ Rural 
Science Series.” It is a book of over 500 pages, written by the editor of the 
Series, Professor L. H. Bailey. It is well for the credit and long continued 
usefulness of this work that it was not attempted ten years ago when the 
author was younger in experience and lacked the busy years during which he 
has been in touch with the thinking, reading, and practical fruit growers 
across the continent. 
The book is in no sense a descriptive fruit book, with some practical 
instructions on propagation and orchard management, but, as its title indi- 
Cates, states the general principles which underlie all fruit culture. It isa 
masterly joining of science with practice, under varied conditions of soil and 
climate in the United States and Canada. Varieties are hot discussed except 
in the way of illustrating principles involved in the varied discussions. The 
SCHAPMAN, A. W.—Flora of the Southern United States. Third edition. 8vo. pp. 
xxxix ++ 665. Cambridge, Mass.; Cambridge Botanical Supply Company. 1897. $4.00 
° BalLey, L. H., The principles of fruit growing. 12mo. Pp. xii 508. Figs. 
114. New York: Macmillan Co., 1897. $1.25. 
