72 BOTANICAL GAZETTE JULY 
of life, including a discussion of the origin of life and the history of death; 
stimuli and their actions; and the mechanism of life. 
No detailed discussion of the book need be entered upon, since itis 
already fairly well known in the original form. . The translation has bee 
admirably done by Professor Lee. The smooth and readable German of Ver 
worn has been converted into easy and idiomatic English.—C. R. B. 
Some popular books. 
ALICE LOUNSBERRY is the author of A guide to the wild flowers? recenlly 
published. Mrs, Ellis Bowan has had charge of the illustrations, which 
consist of sixty-four colored and one hundred black and white plates, and 
fifty-four diagrams. Dr, N. L. Britton has written a brief introduction. The 
numerous attempts to provide easy and interesting ways of recognizing plants 
indicate'a real demand and one that is very hopeful.. Nature study is finding 
a prominent place in the schools, and any book which stimulates it properly 
is to be commended. The plants selected for this book are well illustrated 
and fairly wéll described, and should be recognized easily by the intelligent 
observer. Although strictly taxonomic, the plants are presented in ecologic 
groups; as for example, “plants growing in water,” “ plants growing in mols 
soil,” “ plants growing in dry soil,” etc., etc.—J. M. C 
what things are and what they are for, so far as current knowledge §%% 
The titles of the chapters are suggestive of the topical character of the bod 
A few of them are as follows: crocuses, dandelions, the flowering of the 
forest trees, green leaves at work, grasses, climbing plants, a handf : 
weeds, in winter woods, etc. The photographs are especially excellent, ™ 
_ Some of our common plants are made to stand out with remarkable distint 
ness. The book can be commended to all those who wish to come into “ 
tact with nature in an untechnical way, and also to teachers in charge" 
nature study.—J, M. C, a 
DWARD KNOBEL has attempted to make the identification of the ee 
sedges, and rushes of the northern United States an easy matter.’ The plate 
7A guide to the. wild flowers. 8vo. pp. xvii+ 347. New York: Frederick & 
Stokes Company. 1899. ‘ tee 
* Field, forest, and wayside flowers. 8vo, pp.xvi-+ 411. New York: The = 
& Taylor Company. 1899. $1.50. 7 ‘ 
“The grasses, sedges, and’ rushes of the northern U. S. 8vo. pp. 78» #O 
Boston: Bradlee Whidden, 1899. $1.00. . a 
