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Nomenclature (pp. 430-462), V. Classification of Angiosperms 

 Yielding Economic Products (pp. 463-727), VI. Cultivation of 

 Medicinal Plants (pp. 728-748), VII. Microscopic Technique and 

 Reagents (pp. '749~776)- 



In a book, the title to which is applied and economic botany, 

 the fifth chapter is the most cogent. About this chapter one or 

 two very obvious reflections must spring up in the mind of 

 everyone. In the first place it comprises only a little over one 

 quarter of the whole book, and in the second place the heading of 

 it is "Classification of Angiosperms Yielding Economic Prod- 

 ucts." Let us take only one class of readers to whom the 

 preface suggests it may be useful, as a "reference book for 

 manufacturers." Picture the attitude of mind of a busy 

 manufacturer of fiber products wanting to find something more 

 about his materials, when the "Classification of Angiosperms 

 yielding Economic Products" is brought to his attention. The 

 "Classification of Angiosperms" is very likely to be pushed off 

 on the office boy. 



This, of course, raises the very serious question whether or 

 not a book on applied and economic botany should concern itself 

 with classification of Angiosperms at all. The manufacturer 

 we are sure considers it a nuisance, and perhaps that is the 

 attitude of nearly everyone who might be expected to use the 

 book. For classification implies taxonomy which has almost 

 nothing to do with drugs, foods, fibers, and so forth. Our 

 hypothetical manufacturer will find, of course, a description 

 of the best-known fiber plants in their proper place in the classi- 

 fication, but he must know at least their genera to find them. 

 Why should he be made to dig through endless families, etc., for 

 his information? The same is true of all the other chief vege- 

 table economic products. 



This should not be construed as harsh criticism of a scholarly 

 book; it is merely to raise the question with which this review 

 started. Perhaps it is impossible to cater to so wide a field, and 

 perhaps this book is not just the way to do it. 



The work for which Professor Kraemer is best known is phar- 

 juacognosy, and of course this side of the book is very complete. 



