552 



SCIEJSrCE. 



[Vol. VIII. , No. 201 



This is explained more clearly by Professor Clark 

 than by any other writer in English. 



Utilities are further subdivided, and a different 

 law of costliness is found to govern elementary 

 utilities from that which obtains with respect to 

 form and place utilities. The law of diminishing 

 returns holds only for elementary utilities. This 

 has an important be iring on Malthusianism, for a 

 predominance is demonstrated of those utilities 

 which tend to cheapness. At the same time the 

 essence of Malthnsianism is recognized and 

 admirably stated in these words : It "maintains 

 that a retarding of the rate of increase of popula- 

 tion is an ultimate necessity, if humanity is to 

 fully i-njoy the earth and to perfect itself." This 

 is a great improvement on any thing which can be 

 found in previous writers, and ought to modify 

 the teaching of political economy. Other points 

 which must especially interest the professional 

 economist are the theory of non-competing groups 

 and the treatment of non-competitive economics, 

 which show conclusively the existence of narrower 

 limits to the range of competitive action than is 

 oi-dinarily supposed. 



The chapter on non-competitive economics is in 

 some respects as important as any in the book. 

 It demonstrates the fact that the field of non- 

 competitive economics is increasmg ; that it ought, 

 in the interest of humanity, to be still further 

 widened ; and that even now the highest forms of 

 rational wealth are disbursed non-competitively. 



The book abounds in valuable practical sug- 

 gestions ; but the man of affairs will be chiefly 

 interested in the chapters on combinations, the 

 ethics of trade, and the economic functions of the 

 church. The last-named subject is discussed more 

 profoundly than in any other book which has 

 come under my notice, and the root of the matter 

 is touched in the protest against the appeal in the 

 forms of church activity to the spirit of caste. 

 The author does not hesitate to call things by 

 their proper names, and throughout he reveals a 

 vigor of treatment equal to the strength of moral 

 purpose everywhere displayed. 



More, perhaps, might have been said about the 

 nature of economic laws, which is to most econo- 

 mists even a dark field : and possibly the terms 

 ' induction ' and ' deduction ' should have been 

 more clearly defined. A great deal of current 

 discussion on economic method leaves the painful 

 impression of sad ignorance in the fundamental 

 princiijles of logic as understood at preent. 



I cannot either express unqualified approval of 

 what is said in regard to railways. I do not be- 

 lieve, as the result of ray studies, that experience 

 has so far pronounced in favor of government 

 control rather than ownership of means of com- 



munication and transportation ; and, if that alter- 

 native be accepted, Professor Clark fails to show 

 the possibility of an exercise of control over such 

 powerful economic factors. Expei'ience has never 

 demonstrated it. However, this is a subject which 

 needs much further discussion by non-partisans 

 whose sole purpose is the public weal ; and I close 

 this notice of Professor Clark's book with the un- 

 hesitating assertion that it is one of the most im- 

 portant contributions to economics ever made by 

 an American. Richakd T. Ely. 



PLANT-DISSECTION. 



Handbook of plant-dissection. By J. C. Abthuk, C. R. 

 Barnes, and J. M. Coulter. New York, Holt, 1886. 8°. 



This book is a useful guide to the study of a 

 dozen plants of common occurrence, ranging from 

 the most simple forms to those of highest organi- 

 zation. It is modelled on Huxley and Martin's 

 ' Elementary biology.' physiological details being, 

 however, omitted. The introduction gives brief 

 instructions as to the instruments and materials 

 to be used, including the simple lens and compound 

 microscope ; the chemical reagents employed ; 

 section-cutting and the mounting and drawing of 

 objects ; and a list of books of reference needed. 

 The gross anatomy of the plant is first studied 

 with the aid of a hand-lens only, and subsequently 

 its minute anatomy explored with the compound 

 microscope. Outlines are given for the complete 

 study of the following forms : Protococcus viridis, 

 Oscillaria (more usually written Oscillatoria) tenuis, 

 Spirogyra quinina, Cystopus candidus, Micro- 

 sphaera Friesii, Marchantiapolymorpha, Atrichum 

 undulatum, Adiantum pedatum, Pinus sylvestris, 

 Avena sativa. Trillium recurvatum, and Capsella 

 Bursa-pastoris. It would have been a little more 

 convenient for the average student if one of our 

 native pines had been selected instead of the 

 Scotch pine, though this is quite commonly culti- 

 vated ; and Trillium recurvatum is of rare occur- 

 rence in the eastern states, though for any other 

 purpose save the study of its gross anatomy, any 

 other species of wake-robin will answer as well. 

 A useful glossary of terms used, and an index, 

 are appended. 



A REVOLVING pneumatic cannon, devised by a 

 Washington inventor, is one of the most recent 

 additions to the list of destructive weapons. 

 Another i-ecently invented device of a similar 

 nature is an accelerating projectile, which is so 

 constructed that a series of charges, contained in 

 chambers attached to the rear of the projectile, 

 are exploded in succession, at distinct intervals, as 

 the projectile passes along the tube of the cannon. 



