210” BOTANICAL GAZETTE 
about all. Even the exercises in seed germination, as usual, call attentin 
to the non-essentials and miss the large facts. As for the bulk of thee 
it is the usual round of taking up plant after plant and observing its structs! 
side, not its “life side.’ There is some interesting non-scientific informatie 
about plants, but this seems to be in order to arouse a factitious interes 
an otherwise dull task. Even at the beginning of the second year, the dire- 
tion is to “teach the names of the floral parts — calyx (sepals), com 
(petals), stamens, pistil —and their uses.” = 
We are told that “in the paragraphs marked ‘Facts’ such neces 
knowledge on the subjects therein treated ” is given as the teacher is expette! 
to possess ; and also “these facts are accurate and based upon the latest at 
most eminent authority,” an expression which makes one shudder si 
nature study is designed to banish the book and to break the shackle 
“authority.” In looking over these “facts” it becomes evident that ® 
many of them have been taken from “eminent authority” rather than im 
observation. 
The statement that ‘the course here presented does not pea 3 
special training on the part of the teacher” presents a heresy which ome 
be too vigorously denounced. It is further stated that “ it is not my a 
ence," chief of which, we venture to say, is experience with ieee 
ibility 
MINOR NOTICES. 
MR. JAMES M. Macoun has published another one of ce 
to Canadian Botany.” * It reports plants new to — 
changes in homenclature.— J. M. C. 
‘C 
MR. Epwin B. Unive has published the first part of 0. © 
Dioscoreacezx 3 as his doctor’s thesis at the University of -¢cation 
is devoted to morphology, especially in its relation to the pe ~compasil 
8roup, and necessarily involves considerable compilation ©” 
* Reprint from Canadian Record of Science 267-286. 1897: _ mann, Dee. 
ie: ipzig, Wilhelm Engem™” 
Eine Monographie der Dioscoreaceen, Leipzig, Wi . 
