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appearance in June, 1910, is described, and the sparse and hardly 

 typical new growth is noted. It is expected that this "occupation 

 of a virgin soil by a new plant covering" will prove as interesting 

 as that previously described after the volcanic disturbances at 

 Krakatoa. It certainly adds a new type to the work previously 

 done at Krakatoa and along the ocean, and to that now being 

 conducted at the Sal ton Sea. 



A paper by C. V. Piper on botany in its relation to agricultural 

 advancement, too varied to be abstracted here, appeared some 

 months ago in Science (June 10, 1910). Hybrids, sports, and 

 other plant variations — especially with reference to cultivated 

 or agricultural plants are discussed in a way to be interesting 

 even to the general reader. 



The Nature Study Review for November, 1910, contains two 

 articles of interest to high school teachers. One is by Alice J. 

 Patterson on potatoes and oats as nature study topics. It 

 includes much in subject matter and method that would be help- 

 ful in the first year high school classes. The cuts are especially 

 interesting. The first is of the first potato introduced into Europe 

 from a water color of 1588 by Clusius; the second shows potato 

 fruits, about one inch in diameter. 



The second article is by Frederick L. Holtz on weeds, the 

 common kinds, and the methods of eradicating them. It is 

 in a form suitable for high school reading. 



The question of coastal subsidence is discussed again in a 

 recent Science (January 6, 191 1) by H. H. Bartlett. Conditions 

 near Buzzard's Bay where fresh water peat is found fourteen 

 feet below sea level are given as proof of subsidence which is still 

 going on. The controversy is continued in the same journal 

 (January 13 and February 24). In the latter issue D. S. Johnson 

 writes to explain some of the facts used by Mr. Bartlett, in a 

 way that leaves coastal subsidence very much of an open ques- 

 tion. 



