890 



SCIENCE 



[N. S. Vol. XXVIII. No. 729 



real sense of the word. In the first place are 

 set forth in simple language and lucid style 

 the fundamental facts of plant physiology and 

 morphology. Although not elementary in its 

 treatment, the hook is one which the beginner 

 may read with interest and profit. In the 

 second place the general order in which the 

 subjects are taken is the logical one from the 

 teacher's standpoint. 



In Part I. the author discusses the structures 

 and functions of typical plant organs as found 

 in the leaf, root, stem, flower, etc. Though 

 the order of subjects in the first part is not 

 the most advantageous, from the reviewer's 

 standpoint, the relations of structure and 

 function and the relation of the work of 

 one organ to that of another is made clear, and 

 one is acquainted with the business of a vege- 

 table organism, and the nature of plant life, 

 before taking up the study of the structure 

 and relationships of the groups which form 

 the substance of Part II. 



In the second part we are introduced to the 

 principal divisions of the vegetable kingdom 

 in ascending order, typical examples being dis- 

 cussed with sufficient fullness and clearness to 

 set forth the salient features of their kind. 

 Due emphasis is laid upon phylogeny and dis- 

 cussions of points of biological interest are 

 plentiful. One feature of the book which adds 

 to its interest, and which will commend it to 

 many readers, is the repeated reference to the 

 practical application of botanical knowledge 

 and the relation of certain plants to economic 

 operations. 



One is pleased to observe the excellent char- 

 acter of the illustrations. It is a relief to see 

 illustrations that illustrate, after some of the 

 wretched sketches and meaningless figures that 

 characterize several of the recent text-books 

 of botany. 



J. E. Ejrkwood 



Deseet Botanical Laboeatoby, 

 Tucson, Aeizona 



India Ruhier and Us Manufacture, with 

 Chapters on Gutta-percha and Balata. By 

 Hubert L. Terry. 8vo, pp. v + 291, illus- 

 trated. New York, Van Nostrand Com- 

 pany. 190Y. $2.00. 



One may fairly say that, nest to mining, 

 the growing of rubber has of recent years been 

 increasingly regarded as a golden path to ma- 

 terial ease. In common with mining, the 

 project has its risks and drawbacks, and the 

 only safe guide to intelligent investment in 

 both is knowledge. This the general public 

 does not have, but many individuals desire 

 specific information, either for the reason ob- 

 served, or for the sake of general enlighten- 

 ment. "With regard to rubber and its manu- 

 facture, Terry's book fairly meets this need; it 

 is for such that it has been written. Though 

 dealing with a distinctly technical field, the 

 author has succeeded in making a very read- 

 able book, and this is due not a little to 

 his pleasing style, occasional prolixity to the 

 contrary notwithstanding. 



One experiences a slight feeling of disap- 

 pointment in reading the first two chapters, 

 those dealing with the history of the matter 

 and with the botanical origin of crude rubber. 

 It would have been justifiable to have dealt 

 with these topics with greater liberality, and 

 the addition of treatment at greater length of 

 the cultural aspects of the industry would 

 have heightened the value of the book in a 

 marked degree. It seems to the reviewer a 

 fair criticism that the chapter on India- 

 rubber Plantations is a trifie pessimistic. 

 Mr. Terry's attitude is safe, because negative. 

 A more just statement of the legitimate at- 

 tempts which are being made in Mexico to 

 cultivate rubber trees (Castilloa') would have 

 had greater merit. Sharp practises do great 

 damage to infant industries. So much more 

 therefore do these demand proper representa- 

 tion at the hands of the critic. 



To be commended in this connection is the 

 effort to point out the need for adequate con- 

 servation of the natural forests of rubber- 

 producing trees, a problem to which our 

 modem forestry methods have not yet reached. 

 Science will be needed in meeting this aspect 

 of the industry quite as much as any other. 

 Already her face has been turned toward 

 plantation culture, with no little success, but 

 the inevitable struggle of man with nature has 

 already discovered a quite handsome array of 



