74 



clays of New Jersey, besides a number of leaves in parallel hori- 

 zons elsewhere. Fontaine even describes a leaf under the name 

 Aceriphyllum from the Potomac formation of Virginia, the affinity 

 of which, however, is doubtful. The very abundantly preserved 

 flora of the Dakota group contains no true species of Acer, 

 although two species referred to Acerites have been described. 

 Likewise the abundant flora of the Atane schists of Greenland 

 contains no maples and the Cenomanian of Europe but one species, 

 which is often considered doubtful, so that we may look upon 

 the maples as a dawning type in the Cretaceous days that had 

 long since seen the oak and tulip-tree, magnolia and holly, 

 willow and poplar, sassafras and sycamore. 



Edward W. Berry. 

 Passaic, N. J., March 12, 1903. 



REVIEWS 



Two new elementary botanical Text=Books 



Certainly the teachers of elementary botany cannot complain of 

 the lack of text-books, nor on the whole, may the complaint be 

 extended to their quality. And it is significant that the field 

 covered by recently published works is common, and corresponds 

 closely to the specifications published under the authority of the 

 Society for Plant Morphology and Physiology, and accepted by 

 the Examination Board of the Middle States and Maryland. 



Two of the more recently published of these text-books are the 

 " Introduction to Botany " by W. C. Stevens * and " Botany all 

 the Year Round " by E. F. Andrews.")" They are similar in scope 

 and as no serious unfavorable criticism may be offered in regard 

 to either, it is my chief purpose to point out the contrasts of 

 treatment. 



In the " Introduction to Botany" the approach to the subject 

 is through the study of seeds and seedlings, a method in very 

 general acceptance. The disadvantage of doing in this way 

 becomes apparent in the study of the " grain " of Indian corn, 



*Pp. v-f-436-f 127 (Flora). Boston, D. C. Heath, 1902. 

 f Pp. 302. New York, American liook Company, 1 903. 



