Geology and Watiiral History. 85 



9. Fundamentals of Bota^iy ; by C. Stuart Gager. Pp. 

 xix, 640, with frontispiece and 434 text-figures. Philadelphia, 

 1916 (P. Blakiston's Son & Co.). — Dr. Gager's text book presents 

 so many interesting features that it is difficult to call attention to 

 them in a brief review. In his opinion the purpose of an intro- 

 ductory course in any subject is not so much to prepare the stu- 

 dent for advanced courses as to introduce him into a new realm 

 of thought. With this end in view he emphasizes certain phases 

 of botany which are not usually taken up in introductory works. 

 After describing the nature of the science, and the various fields 

 of botanical activity, he gives a short account of plant organs and 

 of plant cells. He then proceeds at once to a consideration of 

 the functions of plants, taking up such subjects as the loss and 

 absorption of water, nutrition, respiration and growth. He then 

 discusses the structure and life histories of typical plant-forms, 

 beginning with the fern and taking up in order mosses, liver- 

 worts, algae, and fungi. Then, in an ascending series, he con- 

 tinues with the horsetails, lycopods, cycads, conifers, and angio- 

 sperms. Into these discussions he introduces many collateral 

 topics. Some of these illustrate theories or generalizations and 

 others call attention to matters of economic importance. In con- 

 nection with the ferns, for example, alternation of generations, 

 reduction, inheritance, variation, and adjustment to environment 

 are clearly presented ; while, in connection with the fungi, the use 

 of these plants as food, the diseases which they cause, the nature 

 of fermentation, and the significance of bacteria to the human 

 race are among the subjects considered. The concluding chapters 

 of the book are devoted to such subjects as evolution, Darwinism, 

 and heredity. Throughout the volume the author lays especial 

 stress on the historical development of botany and introduces 

 portraits of eminent workers, calling attention to the definite ser- 

 vices which they have rendered. In many places he illustrates 

 his text with original outlines or diagrams ; these and the excel- 

 lent text-figures, many of which are new, deserve high commen- 

 dation. The book on the whole represents a distinct contribution 

 to botanical pedagogy. a. w. e. 



10. A Laboratory Guide for General Botany ; by C. Stuart 

 Gager; pp. viii, 191. Philadelphia, 1916 (P. Blakiston's Son & 

 Co.). — The directions given in this helpful work are unusually 

 explicit, their purpose being not only to help acquaint the student 

 with botanical facts but also to teach him how to observe and 

 how to record liis observations. In many cases his knowledge is 

 tested by suitable questions. The order of topics is the same as 

 in the author's Fundamentals of Botany, although the book could 

 easilj^ be used in connection with other texts. a. w. e. 



1 1 . Laboratory Manual of A gricidtural Chemhtry ; by Charles 

 Cleveland Hedges and William Thoreau Bryant. Pp. x, 

 94, with frontispiece and 8 text-figures. New York, 1916 (Ginn 

 & Company). — This little book is designed to meet the special 

 needs of students in agricultural chemistry and presupposes a 



