120 



A few peculiarities of terminology seem unnecessary. The reason- 

 ing that substitutes "ovulary" for ovary should also lead to the 

 introduction of new terms for egg, sperm, micropyle, epidermis, 

 respiration, and many others. And there seems no reason at all why 

 the familiar and inoffensive "haploid" should be replaced by such 

 an etymological waif as "monoploid." 



It is always a pleasure to read a textbook which does not stul- 

 tify itself with the Spencerian teleology which has so long domi- 

 nated the teaching of biology. However, the philosophy which 

 expels teleology must be more rigorous than that which let it 

 creep in. It is not sufficient to refer to the lack of consciousness in 

 plants ; automobiles and watches have purposes, and perhaps even 

 in more than one sense. If the scientific approach merits discussion, 

 the intelHgent student has a right to a better treatment than that 

 of Chaper VI. The biologist, instead of attemping to show the 

 absurdity of teleology (which is not absurd), should devote his 

 efforts to demonstrating its uselessness in science and the usefulness 

 of the mechanistic view. 



Errors and defects are inevitable in any large work and need 

 not interfere seriously with its use ; the experienced teacher will 

 be able to detect them and to make allowance for them. It may 

 safely be said that this . is the best textbook of botany and the most 

 significant contribution to the teaching of the subject that has 

 appeared in several years, and should be of great value to teachers 

 who have students and assistants capable of handling so detailed a 

 presentation and who sympathize with its definition of what should 

 be taught in an elementary course. ,-, ,,. -^ 



^ ^ H. W. RiCKETT 



New York Botanical Garden. 



Plants and Man 



Plants and Man. Clarence J. Hylander and Oran B. Stanley. X + 518 

 pages. Blakiston Co. 1941. $3.00. 



Quite different from the usual textbook is this one prepared 

 for a one semester course in Junior Colleges and Teacher Training 

 Colleges. It is planned primarily as a cultural course for those who 

 may take no further work in botany, appealing to the interest of 

 students by stressing man's dependence on plants. Chiefly a text 

 on economic botany, it discusses in addition the structures and 



