1895.] Botany. ` 489 
and no man need ask for a more faithful adherence to the spirit of the 
older book than we find here. Yet this did not prevent the introduc- 
tion of some modern ideas. We all know how candid a mind Dr. 
Gray always possessed, and how open it was to the reception of new 
ideas. Accordingly we find that the relation of the Angiosperms to the 
Gymnosperms is properly given in the new book, and that the latter are 
no longer “ sandwiched” between the Dicotyledons and Monocotyle- 
dons. 
Among other improvements to be noted in this edition are, the use- 
ful table of contents and the four pages entitled “ nomenclature,” the 
“latter including valuable biographical data. The citation of the author- 
ity for each plant name will be useful in accustoming young students 
to the practice of botanists, but it isto be regretted that the old method 
had to be followed. This and a few cases in which an obsolescent 
nomenclature was followed, show the folly of the publishers in insist- 
ing upon too close an adherance to Dr. Gray’s views of ten or more 
years ago. In life Dr. Gray frequently changed his views, as became 
a candid man of science, and it is an injustice to his memory for the 
“ President and Fellows of Harvard College” to require that his books 
shall remain essentially unchanged. They would not dare to do so 
with a work on Chemistry or Physics, why should they for one on 
botany? When they authorize another edition of Dr. Gray’s works 
they would do well to follow the example of our German friends, who 
are bringing out a new edition of Rabenhorst’s “ Kryptogamen Flora.” 
Professor Bailey has taken much care in the selection of the addi- 
tions which he has made, and rightly he has given preference to those 
which are cultivated rather than the wild species. It appears from 
the reviser’s estimates that this edition contains 553 species more than 
. the former one, which represents considerably more than so many 
actual additions, since some species have been omitted. The new 
book will be very useful. 
CHARLES E, Bessey. 
