171 



we follow Female! antl Rchdcr in recognizing two forms,* and" 

 find that only the southern form enters Illinois in any quantity. 

 Or it may be that the beech avoids the richest soils, with abun- 

 dant soil fauna, such as characterize most of Illinois; though it is 

 regarded as one of the most typical "climax" trees by the 

 ecologists or successionists of the Chicago school. Quercus 

 veltitina appears to be the most abundant tree in the state. There 

 are five or six evergreens in Illinois, but none are abundant enough 

 to appear in Hall and Ingall's statistics, and all combined they 

 probably do not make up more than i per cent of the forest wealth 

 of the state. 



If similar statistics could be worked out for other states it 

 would go far toward filling the long-felt want of an inventory of 

 our forests, which are becoming scarcer and more valuable all the 

 time. About the only obvious shortcomings of this report are 

 that it did not cover the whole state statistically, a forest map 

 intended to accompany it was omitted for lack of funds, and the 

 species are lumped together too much in the tables; all of vvhich 

 could probably be remedied without great expense. 



Roland M. Harper 



Emerson and Weed's Our Treest 



Of the popular guides for the identification of trees, none is 

 more attractively gotten up than this. To the fifth edition just 

 . out an introduction has been added, calling attention to the 

 seasonal changes of trees. A full-page illustration is given to 

 each species. Leaves, flowers and fruits have been photographed 

 and a small inset view of the whole tree has been added. On the 

 page facing the illustrations is the description calling attention 

 to the distinguishing characteristics. Here related species not 

 illustrated are sometimes mentioned, but the book is not in- 

 tended to be complete in this respect. The arrangement and 

 Latin names are those of Professor Sargent's Manual of the 

 Trees of North America (with the ginkgo still in the Yew family) ; 



* See Jour. Elisha Mitchell Sci. Soc. 33 117 (footnote). 1917- 



t Emerson, Arthur I., and Weed, Clarence M. Our Trees, How to Know them. 



5th edition, pp. xxi + 295, 149 illustrations. Philadelphia and London, J. B. 



Lippincott Co. 1918. Price ^^3.50 net. 



