138 



ods and the genetics of maize, which is genetically our best known 

 plant and probably the one in which breeding has so far obtained 

 the greatest improvements. Chapters XVI and XVII discuss con- 

 trolled pollination and seed production methods. The former in- 

 cludes a good section on the part played by incompatibilities and 

 sterilities in breeding problems. The last five chapters deal with the 

 standard methods of treating and analyzing data. A bibliography, 

 glossary of terms, and appendix of statistical tables complete the 

 book. 



Methods of Plant Breeding could hardly have appeared at a 

 more opportune time. The plant breeder is to-day faced with what 

 is at once a challenge and a golden opportunity. Regardless of how 

 long or short the "duration" may be this country must for some 

 years to come produce both foodstuffs and other plant materials 

 to supply not only ourselves and our allies but later all those peoples 

 of the world whose lands have been devastated by war. This pro- 

 gram will necessitate further improvements in our main crop 

 plants, and the cultivation of many crops new to our agriculture. 

 The endeavor will be a tremendous one and this book should prove 

 a valuable guide to those entrusted with its breeding problems. 



Finally it should be pointed out that several times the au- 

 thors emphasize that progress in the field, and its attendant bene- 

 fits to mankind, depend to a large extent upon free exchange of 

 ideas and materials among workers at different stations and in 

 different nations. This thought is one which it is to be hoped will 

 permeate fields far greater in scope than that of plant breeding. 



Barxard College, W. Gordox Whaley 



Columbia Uxiversitv ' 



Apache-state Flora 



Flowering Plants and Ferns of Arizona. By T. H. Kearney and R. H. 

 Peebles (and collaborators). Pp. 1,069, illustrated (29 plates and frontispiece) 

 and indexed. U. S. Dept. of Agriculture Misc. Publ. 423. May, 1942. $2.00. 



This, the second volume to appear in the last tw^o years that can 

 be truly called a state Flora, takes its place alongside Beam's Flora 

 of Indiana as an example for authors of future state Floras to emu- 

 late. The differences, other than format and general plan, between 

 these two state Floras are primarily due to the fact that while 



