1885.] Recent Literature. 779 
was made the text (to some extent) of instructive articles by Gray 
and Trumbull, which appeared in the American Journal of Science 
during the year 1883, some of the matter of which has been in- 
corporated by the author in the English edition which has now 
made an appearance. This edition is, therefore, somewhat more 
than a mere translation, and partakes of the nature of a new 
edition. 
The purpose of the book may be given in the following para- 
graph in the preface: “I have always aimed at discovering the 
condition and the habitat of each species before it was cultivated. 
It was needful to this end to distinguish from among innumera- 
‘ble varieties that which should be regarded as the most ancient 
and to find out from what quarter of the globe it came. The 
problem is more difficult than it appears at first sight. In the 
last century and up to the middle of the present, authors made 
little account of it, and the most able have contributed to the 
propagation of erroneous ideas. I believe three out of four of 
Linnzus’ indications of the original home of cultivated plants 
are incomplete or incorrect. 
The book is divided into three parts. In the first we have a 
general discussion of the epochs of cultivation and of the method 
of discovering the origin of cultivated species. In the second 
part plants are taken up systematically and discussed as to their 
origin. Thus we have first those plants which are cultivated for 
their subterranean parts, next those cultivated for their stems or 
leaves, then those cultivated for their flowers or the organs which 
envelop them, next those cultivated for their fruits, and lastly 
those for their seeds. In part third we have interesting summa- 
ries and conclusions, accompanied with various tables of species. 
In all the author has examined 247 species, of which 199 
originated in the old world, 45 in the new world, with three whose 
origin has not yet been determined. “An noteworthy fact is the 
sages in some countries, of indigenous cultivated plants. * 
e United States, in spite of its vast territory which 
the aide: a statement which air dy overlooks our ex- 
cellent grapes which are derived from several native species, our 
E n raspberries and strawberries. 
age 460 we find the remark: “ I have not observed the 
slightest indication of an adaptation to cold. When the cultiva- 
can ripen before the cold season, or by the custom of cultivating 
in the north i in summer the species which in the south are sown 
in winter.” To this we apprehend our horticulturists will not 
assent. It may be true in the three examples cited, as well as 
for many others annuals, but what shall we say for the varieties 
