Book Notices. 



Book Notices. 



The increasing interest taken in the study of Astronomy has induced 

 the proprietors of Knoivledge to issue an annual for students and 

 workers in that science specially devoted to their requirements. It is 

 entitled " Knowledge Diary and Scientific Handbook, 1901," and will 

 contain, amongst other things, useful tables, original articles, calendar 

 of scientific events, and a blank diary portion. 



Botany : An Elementary Text-Book, by L. H. Bailey. 12mo. 

 Half leather. 500 illustrations. Pages xiv + 355. The MacMillan 

 Company. New York. Price $1.10. 



The amount of literature relating to the study of plants which has 

 appeared during the last five years is truly astonishing. For a quarter 

 of a century or more Gray's Lessons with plants was the standard, in 

 fact the dominant class-room botany. About the time his " New 

 Manual " was published in 1887, other books presenting the stiidy of 

 botany in quite a different manner appeared. Since that time, each 

 year has marked divergences of opinion among botanists regarding 

 teaching methods. 



Gray's Lessons did not take up the subject from the present-day 

 view point of botanical science. It is a question with many whether 

 the botanical science standpoint is best for the pupil — the average 

 pupil. There are many text-books for the student of botany. The 

 admirable works of Coulter, Barnes, Atkinson and Ganong are written 

 for the college student. There are few text-books for the pupil. In 

 the present-day botany, individuals of the plant kingdom illustrating 

 its lowest and simplest forms are studied first. More complete forms 

 are examined in natural order and regular sequence. This is the logi- 

 cal ; it is the scientific method, the one approved by those versed in 

 pedagogy. 



Bailey's botany "is made for the pupil" — so its author announces. 

 " There are four general subjects in the book : The nature of the plant 

 itself ; the relation of the plant to its surroundings ; histological 

 studies ; determination of the kinds of plants." The author's position 

 on the teaching of botany in the secondary school has no doubt been 

 much influenced by his intimate association with the nature study 

 movement in New York, which in itself has been a great training 

 school. It is as follows : "In the secondary schools, botany should be 

 taught for the purpose of bringing the pupil closer to the things with 

 which he lives, of widening his horizon, of intensifying his hold on life. 

 It should begin with familiar plant forms and phenomena. It should 

 be related to the experiences of the daily life. It should not be taught 

 for the purpose of making the pupil a specialist ; that eilort should be 

 retained for the few who develop a taste for special knowledge. It is 



