EDITORIAL NOTES. 



319 



scholars in all countries in regard to such fa- 

 miliar topics as Manures, food for animals, 

 noxious insects: Construction of buildings, 

 lightning, heating and ventilation, clothing^ 

 the laundry and the table : Printing and en- 

 graving, moulding and casting, cleaning and 

 bleaching, painting, staining and varnishing 

 plating, cementing and the utilizing of waste 

 products. It is really worth more, directly, to 

 the masses of the people than to scientists, be- 

 cause the latter are supposed to have more 

 ready access to standard works and the specia 

 periodicals of their respective branches, while 

 the latter are necessarily more dependent upon 

 compilations and books of reference. 



A Practical Treatise on Lightning Pro 

 TECTiON, by Henry W. Spang, with illus- 

 trations, 180 pp., Eamsen & HafFelfinger, 

 Philadelphia, Pa. 



This is a practical treatise on electricity and 

 its properties and phenomena, with plain com- 

 mon sense remarks upon lightning conductors, 

 founded upon observation and well-known 

 facts. The intention and object of the author 

 are to show that lightning rods in common use 

 are insufficient, and for the most part con 

 structed on false principles, 'and to point out 

 how many of the materials used in the construc- 

 tion of our buildings, such as water-pipes, metal 

 roofs and rain pipes, maybe utilized as safe and 

 sufficient conductors. The chapters on protec- 

 tion of buildings, oil tanks, steam boilers, ships, 

 wooden bridges, telegraph poles, are eminently 

 practical, and may be read with advantage by 

 all classes of people. The author is connected 

 with telegraphing, and writes from an exten- 

 sive acquaintance with the subject of electricity 

 in all its economic bearings, and not in the 

 interest of any "patent lightning-rod." 



The Elements of AGKicuLTtJiiAL Geology, 

 by Wm. K. Kedzie, M. S., of the Kansas 

 State Agricultural College. Wilson, Hinkle 

 & Co., Cincinnati and New York. 96 pp. 



This little work, prepared for the use of the 

 schools of Kansas, reflects great credit upon its 

 well known author, not so much for its pro- 

 fundity as for the skill which he has displayed 

 in making it just what it is intended for— a 

 manual for use in the schools. The trouble 

 with most school books on the higher branches 



of learning is that they are too erudite, and 

 that the learner fails to draw useful and prac- 

 tical inferences from them. He studies the text 

 books, but at the close of his course, has no idea 

 whatever of applying what he has learned to 

 the ordinary pursuits of life. This will not be 

 the case with those who use Prof. Kedzie's 

 book. Every page has its practical teachings, 

 and the youth of Kansas are to be congratulated 

 upon having so valuable a text-book upon so 

 important a subject. 



IIouEs wsTH Men and Books, by "VViliiam 

 Matthews, LL. D. Chicago: S. C. Gricgs 

 & Co., 1877. .38-1 pp. $2.00. 



Professor Matthews has reached the top 

 round of the. ladder as a brilliant and graceful 

 essayist, and his works are read with all the 

 interest ever felt in those of Hazlitt or De- 

 Quincy himself. His versatility is equal to his 

 brilliancy, and he writes currente calamo on all 

 subjects. His treatise on "Words: their Use 

 and Abuse," obtained a wide circulation, and 

 received the commendations of the most careful 

 critics in the country. 



The present work has already passed to a 

 third edition, which is at least an indication 

 that the author's popularity is still on the in- 

 crease. The mechanical work of the publish- 

 ers is a model of excellence in paper, print and 

 binding. 



Popular Sciexce Monthly, August 1877, 

 Appleton & Co., N. Y., pp. 128, $5.00 per 

 annum. 



With this nunaber a change takes place in 

 the editorial department by the association of 

 Prof. W. J. Youmans with the former distin- 

 tinguished editor, Prof. E. L. Youmans, who 

 has so ably managed this indispensable journal 

 for the past five years. If doubling the edito- 

 rial force shall have the effect to increase in the 

 same proportion its usefulness and popularity, 

 the American reading public will be fortunate 

 indeed. The present number presents an unu- 

 sually rich and varied table of contents. 



Van Nostrand's Eclectic Engineering 

 Magazine, July 1877, pp. 98, Van Nos- 

 trand & Co , New York, $5.00 per annum. 



We are much gratified to number this val- 

 uable journal among our exchanges, and can 



