87 



Larix). Although comparatively small in area, it includes parts 

 of such distinct physiographic provinces as the coastal plain, 

 the Piedmont region, and the Alleghany mountains, the last 

 reaching altitudes within the state of over 3000 feet; and the 

 present work throws much light on the local distribution of the 

 plants characteristic of each of these areas, or of two or more of 

 them, and is an important contribution to existing knowledge of 

 the vegetation of eastern North America. 



After being delayed considerably beyond the expected time 

 of appearance, as is very often the case with important scientific 

 works, this handsome royal octavo volume, embodying the re- 

 sults of field work which was done mostly in the years 1904-6, 

 was finally given to the public about the middle of last summer, 

 the exact date not being known. 



In mechanical make-up the book is fully up to the standard of 

 other recent scientific publications of the state of Maryland, 

 which means that it is practically faultless. The type is large 

 and neat, and the 74 half-tone illustrations of vegetation are well 

 chosen and skillfully executed in nearly every case, the principal 

 exception being that one or two of them are a few degrees out 

 of plumb.* 



The principal author and one of the others having been absent 

 from the state and largely engrossed with other matters during 

 the printing, it fell to the lot of Mr. E. W. Berry as editor to 

 bring the several contributions into harmony with each other 

 as far as possible, and to attend to numerous other essential 

 details; a kind of work which can hardly be appreciated by the 

 reader, as it attracts attention only when poorly done.f 



Besides the preface, indexes, and other necessary appendages, 

 the book is divided into Part i, Introduction, 42 pages; Part 2, 



* This is a defect often observed in the best magazines, both popular and scien- 

 tific, and even in text-books; but there would seem to be little excuse for it, as it 

 lies within the power of author, editor, and engraver, each and severally, to remedy 

 it before it is too late. 



t The reviewer notes with gratification the editor's independence of an auto- 

 cratic band of geographical orthographers located about forty miles from him, in 

 spelling the names of the three counties which have possessive endings according 

 to local and official usage, and not according to arbitrary rules. 



