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forms and also often revealing the associations and conditions 

 under which these species live. These photographs for the most 

 part are of exceptional excellence and their reproduction and 

 printing represent the perfection of a most difficult feature of the 

 book-making art. It is a great satisfaction to take up a book in 

 which the details of a photograph have been brought out with- 

 out recourse to the use of heavy, perishable, and glaring paper. 

 Note should also be made of the line-work figures ; especially 

 those illustrating the cone-bearing trees which have been exe- 

 cuted with unusual accuracy and skill. 



The chief interest in the work is of course centered in the 

 treatment that is accorded the 871 species that make up the 

 body of the text. For clearness and simplicity of statement, 

 for concise and logical presentation, these descriptions and dis- 

 cussions of the North American trees may be Avell taken as a 

 model by future workers. While the characterization of the 

 forms has been taken up in such a non-technical way as to make 

 the work available to those not trained in botany, this treatment 

 has not resulted in a superficial discussion. The work is thor- 

 oughly scientific and the botanist as well as the novice in the 

 subject are alike indebted to the authors for this excellent pres- 

 entation. The descriptions are very complete, consideration 

 being given not only to the summer and winter appearance of 

 the plant but a great deal of attention is devoted also to the dis- 

 tribution, habitat, and relationship of the native and naturalized 

 trees to those of other countries. Consideration is given also to 

 the physical properties of the wood and to its uses as well as to 

 the various products that are of commercial importance in the 

 arts, sciences, and in various industries. Very timely is the in- 

 formation given regarding the availability of various species for. 

 decorative purposes and landscape effects. It is very remarkable 

 that American trees and shrubs have never received the attention 

 in this respect that they deserve. We are constantly confronted 

 in the public parks and private estates with European plants that 

 could often be replaced with advantage by native species. It is 

 encouraging that a few of our horticulturists are realizing the 

 possibilities of this line of work and we feel sure that the North 



