104 



this country, especially to the teacher of general botany. The key 

 is simple, and despite its broken character, owing to the'interpola- 

 tion of many illustrations, can be used easily by any one really in- 

 terested in trees ; it is based upon the fruits as the sub-title indicates. 

 The list of trees included, does not, of course, agree with similar lists 

 of American trees ; this is noticeably true of the oaks (5 species) 

 and the maples (3 species). The greatest value to Americans 

 is in the general chapters on fruits (pp. 3-55) in which the 

 distinctions between seed and fruit, and between the various kinds 

 of fruits, is told in a very readable way. The illustrations will 

 prove very helpful for general demonstration purposes ; one very 

 great advantage over most illustrations is the care with which 

 the seed attachment is shown. 



Jean Broadhurst 



OF INTEREST TO TEACHERS 



Biology in Summer Vacations 



In the preliminary report on the high school course in biology 

 prepared by the New Jersey Science Teachers' Association,* sug- 

 gestions are given for observations during the summer vacation. 

 They are divided into the studies possible at the seaside, on the 

 mountains, in gardens, etc. The questions suggested by Dr. 

 Harper in the July (1908) Torreya maybe too difficult for most 

 of the high school pupils, but some of them, at least, can be 

 used. Will not some teacher, who is in touch with' his botany 

 or biology classes again in the fall, send us a report of what he 

 has been able to do in this line ? We hear much claimed for 

 biology because it is such a vital subject, in close touch with the 

 child's life. Can we in one year give the high school pupil 

 enough to interest him in any such problems and can we enable 

 him to carry them out independently during the summer? Oris 

 it mere talk ? Will not some of our teachers try it this summer ? 

 Reports upon work of this kind would be more convincing than 

 pages on "educational biology" as to what we can rightfully 



* Committee: Mr. G. H. Trafton, Passaic, Chairman; Prof. J. Nelson, Rutgers 

 College, and Miss S. Streeter, Jersey City. 



