382 BOTANICAL GAZETTE [May 
is, however, entirely unaccompanied by information regarding subsequent 
publication, there being no preface, outline, introduction, or explanatory 
note. But every part of this index is of greatest service to those who have 
occasion to consult the work, and we are grateful to have the use of the first 
part while the second is in preparation.—J. C. A. 
An introduction to horticulture. 
The arrangement into a clear and well-defined science of the principles 
which underlie an old and empirically developed art is a matter of slow 
growth. Horticulture boasts of being the oldest of human arts, and yet the 
science of horticulture is ill defined and without adequate representation in 
logical form. Especially since the establishment of colleges for the teaching 
of agriculture and allied subjects a concise text-book to serve as a basis for 
horticultural teaching has been a genuine desideratum. 
A work that appears in many ways to possess the right qualities for meet- 
ing in part these demands has recently been put forth by Professor Emmet 
S. Goff3 of the University of Wisconsin. The work is the outgrowth of the 
author's long experience in teaching horticulture, supplemented by especially 
successful labors as an experimental horticulturist. 
In contrast with the usual method of writing a general treatise and sub- 
sequently condensing an introductory work from it, the author has first pre- 
pared the elementary text. The work is designed for students in first-year 
college work, having little or no previous instruction in chemistry, physics, oF 
y. The work opens with a dozen pages of fundamental matters, clearly 
and succinctly stated. The remainder of the work is divided into four parts: 
a, the round of plant life from germination to the production of seed, with 
many details of structure and physiological action ; 4, the plant as affected 
by unfavorable environment, such as extremes of temperature, light, water, 
food, etc., embracing a variety of ecological observations of great interest to 
the cultivator; c, plant manipulation, especially propagation by seeds and 
division, transplanting and pruning ; and d, plant breeding. In an appendix 
is given an outline for a course of sixty or more laboratory experiments to 
practically illustrate the text. 
The work is written in a lucid and crisp style, well paragraphed for class 
use, and throughout imparts the feeling of a strictly scientific treatment, — 
aoe apropos, however, of work-a-day application. _ 
There is little in the book that invites adverse criticism. The only matter 
ets mentioning is the use of the term assimilation. It is made to cover 
the formation of plant food by chlorophyll bodies, a time-honored usage Put 
_3Gorr, E. S.— Pri ciph 
pitas Seay mae te aca Vp re Sa ee anc aa 
=a an elementary treat designed as 2 
Madison, 1897- Published by - 
