70 BOTANICAL GAZETTE [JANUARY 
improvement of certain economic characters in corn by continuous selection, 
are given careful consideration, as also the theoretically more important work 
of SHutt and East. Full accounts of the experiments in breeding other cereals 
and various fodder plants under way at several experiment stations follow. 
The writers furnish what is perhaps the best brief general critique of LUTHER 
BuRBANK and his much be-written work that has yet appeared, and which 
affords a refreshing change from the usual reiterated adoration of the stoneless 
prune, the plumcot, and the spineless cactus, to which our ears have so long 
been accustomed. What is still more interesting is the very appreciative and 
much deserved commentary on the valuable work of HANSEN in the ameliora- 
tion of the wild fruits of the northwest plains region. The authors have been 
at pains to grasp thoroughly and put down minutely the rather complex 
morphology of our national Department of Agriculture and its protean sub- 
divisions, accompanied by an astonishing genealogical tree of its ramifying- 
functions and peronnel eats is selene er Mepartment: s while to reproduce 
in English. Th visited were those of Kansas, 
South Dakota, and New Jersey, and those with university affiliations were 
Cornell, Wisconsin, Illinois, Minnesota, Nebraska, California, and Arizona, 
the organization and equipment being noted in each case. Agronomic methods, 
soil culture, and agricultural ecomomics in general are reviewed so far’as the 
writers had time and opportunity to observe. Full and detailed accounts 
occur of the apparatus in use at the various experiment stations and botanical 
institutes visited. The authors display throughout a well balanced judicial 
tural education and experimental work. The racht and Glanz of sme of 
do not conceal from the acute vision of the authors of nee Bericht the humiliat- 
Dozenten—regelmissig vergessen’’ (p. 150).—H. F. 
Experiments in plant physiology——HEAtp and Lewis have published‘ @ 
set of experiments in plant physiology, designed to form the basis for a yeat of 
university work. The e snentrgss are grouped under four heads arranged 
wth 
in the following order: (exps. 1-15), movement of water and gases 
(exps. 16-61) 16-61), nutrition pais 62-115), and irritability (exps. 116-150). The 
4 Heat, tp, F. DrF., and Lewis, I. M., Experiments in plant physiology. PP- 7° — : 
figs. 24. Austin, Texas: the authors. 1910 
