186 General Notes. (February, 
BOTANY .! 
Porutar Botany AcAin—Some months ago, in commenting 
upon Step’s “ Plant Life,” we referred to the duty which every 
scientific man owes to his country, to present the leading facts of 
his science in the language of the people. : y 
We wish to reiterate the sentiment, feeling that in so doing wè 
are aiding the cause of scientific and technical botany. We hold 
the more eminent a worker in science becomes, just so much the 
more is it his duty to appear before the world as an instructor 
who may speak “as one having authority.” The world is full of 
men who write for the people, but who themselves have not seen 
_ the things whereof they speak. That they have readers, shows 
the longing there is among the people for a knowledge of sciet- 
tific matters. Why should not every man who brings to light a 
imporiant fact in any department of science, himself publish yee 
the world at large, instead of permitting another to do so "wit 
has simply been standing at the door of the temple?” i 
The wonders of plant life ought to afford material for many 
popular book, popular in the best sense of that much abused wore 
It is greatly to the credit of the people who read popular b 
and who listen to popular lectures, that both authors and | 
find it profitable to assume to have themselves seen the wo ae 
things of which they speak: There isa hint here for Bet ith 
workers, for the men who have all their lives been familiar j 
Nature’s mysterious workings. If the man who makes A 
excursion into the domain of Nature, and fills up his fragm ii i 
and superficial observations by cramming from some a he bë 
volume, is so eagerly/listened to, how much the more Wi ce tht 
who is able to draw from long years of personal expenen is 
material of his narration. for Sone 
Some time ago Miss Herrick prepared a few papers, pings 
ners Monthly upon some of the curious and interest AS fojt 
which the microscope had revealed to her’ in the world o f e 
life. She has now brought these together and addeda poe 
under the title of “ Wonders of Plant Life,” ? which he it has 4 
e have fit 
a chapt a ‘ ‘ : s things 3 © 
apter on the beginnings of life, in which ma X then follor, 
have brought out in one of the tastiest little volumes W 
worts and mosses, a fifth on ferns. The remaining chap 
‘ Edited by Pror. C, E, Bessey, Ames, Iowa. a+, Bledsoe # s 
Py The Wonders of Plant Life under the Microscope. By Sophie B Ma 
New York, G. P. Putnam’s Sons, 1883. 284 pp. 16 mo. 
