DECEMBER 8, 1899. ] 
shocked. But when we find that, rightly in- 
terpreted, these colors mean that in these cases 
the crops mentioned occupy areas in the ratio of 
40% and 30%, respectively, to the total area of 
grain culture, we obtain unexpected information 
of a very definite character, which is at once 
complemented by an inspection of the maps 
showing the ratios of other crops, into a very 
fair picture of the agricultural adaptations and 
possibilities of these unfamiliar regions. On 
the map of Europe, we at once see the pre- 
dominance of the most rapidly maturing grain, 
barley, in the north, while to southward oats 
become predominant, and finally maize. The 
discussion in Vol I. of the complex topographic, 
climatic, ethnologic and commercial conditions 
which bring about the existing state of pro- 
duction in the various countries included, is able 
and very interesting. But the author does not, 
apparently, trust himself to make any definite 
summary forecast of the future development of 
competitive production as between Europe and 
America; doubtless because in the detailed dis- 
cussions he finds the determining factors to be 
numerous and so complicated with unfore- 
seeable contingencies, especially in view of the 
phenomenal progress of transportation facilities | 
and other consequences of industrial and tech- 
nical progress, that he rests content with the 
presentation to the student of economics of a 
host of valuable facts and suggestions from 
which he may draw material for his own con- 
clusions. It is noteworthy that, as the author 
admits, the United States maintains the most 
complete system of statistical enumeration, and 
thus, despite the mutability of its population, 
supply already at least as complete a picture of 
the climatic adaptations of production as does 
the more ancient but politically disjointed con- 
tinent of Europe, with its multifarious meth- 
ods of enumeration and numerous artificial bar- 
riers to development. 
Engelbrecht’s work is certainly of high inter- 
est to all students of the economies of agricul- 
tural production and commerce; and should 
find a prominent place in public libraries 
especially. E. W. HILeArp. 
Plant Relations. A first book of Botany. By 
JoHN M. CouLtTrr, A.M., Ph.D., Head Pro- 
_ SCIENCE. 
857 
fessor of Botany in the University of Chicago. 
Twentieth Century Text-books. New York, 
D. Appleton & Company. 1899. Pp. ix + 264. 
12mo. 
In this pretty book, with its beautiful illus- 
trations, the author presents ‘a connected, 
readable account of sonie of the fundamental 
facts of botany,’ in such a form as ‘to give a 
certain amount of information.’ The phase of 
botany to which attention is directed, is mainly 
that which in these later years we are calling 
ecology, and which hitherto has, to a large de- 
gree, been reserved for the later years of study 
in extended botanical courses in our universi- 
ties. Dr. Coulter believes that the ecological 
view of the plant kingdom gives a proper con- 
ception of the place of plants in Nature, and is 
of more value to those who give but little time 
to the subject, while it serves as a fitting founda- 
tion for subsequent botanical studies. 
After a short introductory chapter the foliage 
leaf is taken up and studied as an organ of the 
plant whose position, color, shape and structure 
are controlled by its light relations. The read- 
er’s attention is directed to many interesting 
phenomena, as the diurnal positions of leaves, 
sensitiveness of leaves, polarity, heliotropism, 
the relation of leaves to one another on erect 
and horizontal stems, etc. In the next chapter 
this is continued in a brief and summary dis- 
cussion of the functions (photosynthesis, trans- 
piration and respiration) and structure (gross 
structure, epidermis, stomata, mesophyll and 
veins) and protective devices (hairs, diminution 
of surface, rosette arrangement, profile position, 
etc.) of foliage leaves. Then follows a chapter 
on shoots, noting stems bearing foliage leaves 
(subterranean, procumbent, floating, climbing 
and erect), stems bearing scale leaves (buds, 
tubers and rootstocks), stems bearing floral 
leaves (life relations, structures, sepals, petals, 
stamens, etc.), and very briefly the structure of 
stems (dicotyledons and conifers, monocoty- 
ledons, ferns and ‘lower plants’). In the 
chapter on roots the treatment is much the 
same (soil roots, water roots, air roots, clinging 
roots, prop roots, parasites, and a page on root 
structure). The reproductive organs are dis- 
cussed under vegetative multiplication, spore 
reproduction, germination, dispersal of repro- 
