CURRENT LITERATURE. 
Two new books for secondary schools. 
Frobably the most puzzling problem in botanical book-making is 
the preparation of a suitable book for secondary schools. The factors 
in the problem are limited time, little or no equipment and poorly 
trained teachers. In the higher stretches of education these factors 
disappear or at least such an assumption can be made. Many have 
been the attempts to solve the problem, but in most cases the demand 
for time, equipment, and training has been larger than the supply. 
Professor T, H. MacBride, of the University of Iowa, is the latest to 
‘ater this field with his “Lessons in Botany.”? His theory is to be 
Otte greatest advantage to the greatest number, and hence he seeks 
10 give the necessary science training through the use of what are 
called “the common plants.” This of course means the plants of pop- 
pa knowledge. In accordance with this theory trees are first intro- 
> bye study of buds, followed by stems, roots, leaves, inflores- 
fence, etc. Then follows a series of types, with no special sequence 
ee than convenience in securing the material. The last six of 
ee lessons are given to cryptogams. a 
th : Jase 1s almost entirely in the form of laboratory directions, only 
. Portions of it being didactic which are necessarily so to fill out 
Subject under discussion. Professor MacBride has followed out 
nea in a very systematic and clear way, and the book will no 
tain] — very useful because usable, in the secondary schools, 68 
veh be More so than many of its predecessors. We do ane i 
entat} rofeseor MacBride’s position that the “natural order’ fe) a 
for mes '§ Opposed to the “logical order,” and that it is more na : 
“cSnts to take up a subject in the order “in which all science has 
the ia oped.” If the “natural” order of presentation, tide is 
eae one, is to be followed rather than the “logical = mit 
“a hehe natural one, only until teachers of the secondary Shes cae 
Standno; sufficiently trained to present the plant kingdom m att 
pt va of its evolution, that is, from the standpoint of nature, 
Th “nt. We question though whether even this 1s necessary. ; 
~~ Sther book? has been prepared by Mr. Bergen, the teacher 0 
tog PRE, THomas H, — s in elementary botany = be care 
Bekce, wall 8vo0. pp. xii + 233. Boston: Allyn & eae gs acions 
Sinn & Co. {¥; Elements of Botany. 12mo. pp. viii 
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