216 BOTANICAL GAZETTE | SEPTEMBER 
secondary schools” will receive any clear cut conception of the position and 
function of root hairs. It is, again, merely a question of adaptation. 
It is hacen to multiply illustrations bearing upon the point under con- 
sideration. The book seems to be prepared for the teacher rather than the 
pupil. In the hands of a skillful teacher fairly versed in elementary botany 
it will be found of high value and exceedingly suggestive. In the hands of a 
teacher without previous laboratory experience its value would be greatly 
impaired, if not utterly destroyed. s an indication that the book was pre- 
pared for the teacher may be taken Appendix II, “Suggestions to the teach- 
r,” which covers 45 pages of the volume, the “laboratory practice’ covering 
129 pages. So large a proportion of space being deemed necessary for 
instructions to teachers furnishes at least indirect support to the view sug- 
gested above. It is a question as to whether pupils should be required to pay 
for suggestions to teachers, at least in such large measure. 
After all, this is a criticism of a condition in our educational system rather 
than of Dr. Setchell’s book. Conditions are so variant in. the secondary 
schools of the country that the work possible for them, either as to content or 
extent, cannot yet be determined. The wide range of subjects taught, save 
in extremely exceptional cases, by every teacher in the secondary schools, 
precludes for the present, at least, the introduction of many of the methods of 
the specialist as well as many of his problems. The tendency is as mistaken 
as strong which is in the direction of the introduction of college and university 
methods into secondary schools. The chief objection to Dr. Setchell’s book 
lies in the fact that it intensifies this tendency, that it fails to recognize the 
difference in conditions, indeed the difference in purpose which exists between 
secondary schools and universities. 
The book will prove extremely helpful in elementary work in colleges and 
universities, and will find its way into the library of every teacher even 
though it does not entirely meet the needs of the secondary schools. Dr. 
Setchell is to be congratulated, not merely upon an honest attempt to solve 
a difficult problem, but also upon the production of a book which, both in 
form of presentation and content, is full of helpful suggestions. —S. C. 
Cytological studies. 
A notable volume? has recently come from the laboratory of Professor 
Strasburger. With certain important cytological problems to investigate, 
Professor Strasburger secured data from a wide range of forms by distribut- 
*STRASBURGER (Eduard), OsterHouT (W. J. V.), MorTreR (David M.), JUEI- 
(H. O.), DeBski (Bronislaw), HARPER (R. A.), FAIRCHILD (D. G.), SWINGLE (Walter 
ee Studien aus dem Bonner botanischen Institut. Separatabdruck 
aus den Jahrbiichern fiir wissen. Bot. 30: 1-268, f/. 78. 1897. [Heft 2 u. 3]. Berlin 
Gebriider ai arate M 27.50. 
eS) 
