Se 
1896. ] Current Literature. 95 
sity of Wisconsin upon the soil water have led him to a general study 
of soil physics and at Professor Bailey’s suggestion he has prepared 
this book as the first volume of a “Rural Science Series” (L. H. Bailey, 
editor, issued by Macmillan & Co.) which is to be an authoritative 
series of readable monographs treating rural problems in the light of 
underlying principles. It is particularly appropriate that the initial 
volume of the seriest should discuss the soil, upon which most “rural 
problems” depend. 
The book treats concisely and interestingly the nature, functions, 
origin, texture, composition, and kinds of soil; nitrogen of the soil; 
the distribution of roots; relation of air and water to soil; tempera- 
ture; drainage and irrigation; and the physical effects of tillage and 
fertilizers. In most of these chapters there is much to interest the 
physiologist and the book may be commended as a necessity for the 
library. 
Minor Notices. 
Just’s BoraniscHER JAHRESBERICHT is so well known that it seems 
scarcely necessary to call attention to its value. The twentieth vol- 
~~ has recently been completed. This Annual Report endeavors 
to give reviews every year of all botanical works, treating bacteriology 
and pharmacy only so far as these are of g linterest to botanists. In 
Producing this invaluable work of reference Dr. E. Koehne, the editor, 
: aided by several well known specialists. By giving abstracts here- 
_ ia more concise form, the Annual Report is to be reduced both 
in price and size. The completeness of this work is a consideration 
of so much importance for all botanists that the editor earnestly re- 
ests botanists in all countries to send him separates of all papers, 
“pecially of such as are not likely otherwise to be referred to in the 
Such contributions would permit more prompt pub- 
more reliance upon the Report. It is particularly 
LE _€verything to the editor’s adddress: Professor 
‘©. Koehne, Friedenau-Berlin, Kirchstr. 5, Germany. 
= ANNOTATED List of the aquatic phanerogams of Iowa has been 
of t Mr. R. I. Cratty* as a separate from the science bulletin 
pete University of Iowa. It embraces eighteen genera and 
; * 
manag’ H.—The soil; its nature, relations, and fundamental principles of 
Pp. xvi 
1895."$o.7¢, 20. pp. xvi + 303. figs. 45. New York: Macmillan & Co. 
: 
15. Ge 
B 
*Cra m. 
Bulletin eg otes on the aquatic phenogams of —_—. Pings from 
