— 103— 



There are many ways of acquiring a knowledge of plants, but 

 few are more attractive than the one opened by Dr. Coulter in his 

 recently issued " Plant Relations."! The appearance of this vol- 

 ume, which is unique in being entirely devoted to ecology, again 

 emphasizes the importance that is being attached to this phase of 

 the science. Opinions may differ as to whether Ecology or Mor- 

 phology should have precedence in school and college courses, but 

 there can be little doubt as to which is best for the general reader. 

 He cares most to know how plants live and how they behave 

 toward other plants and animals. In the fifteen chapters of this 

 book the information will be found, set forth with a minimum of 

 scientific terms and well illustrated. No part of botany stands in 

 greater need of good illustration than ecology, and none lends 

 itself more readily to it. The author has shown excellent taste in 

 the selection of the more than two hundred cuts. A majority are 

 photo-engravings and the rest are either original drawings or 

 selections of the best of other works. The typography and paper 

 are of the best. Although this is the first of two books designed 

 expressly for school work, we can recommend it to every person 

 who is interested in the larger relations of plants. 



It is perhaps possible for one to make a good collection of 

 plants without instructions, but the chances are the deeper the 

 collector goes into the work the more he will find himself in need 

 of some experienced friend to point out the easiest way of doing 

 things in order to save labor. Such a friend may be found in 

 Prof. Bailey's " Botanizing," \ a little book which treats the whole 

 subject of herbarium -making and exchanging very thoroughly. 

 Although beginners will find the book most useful, older collect- 

 ors can glean many new ideas from its pages. Especially to be 

 commended are the directions for collecting certain families of 

 plants requiring special treatment. These have been written by 

 acknowledged specialists in their lines of work. In most of its 

 statements the book is up-to-date. It is neatly printed and of a 

 convenient size for the pocket, the latter a very desirable feature 

 in a manual of this kind. 



t "Plant Relations, a first book of botany," by John M. Coulter, A. M., 

 Ph. D. New York : D. Appleton & Co., 1899. 12-mo., 255 pp. Price $1.10. 



X "Botanizing, a guide to field collecting and herbarium work," by Wil- 

 liam Whitman Bailey. Providence, R. L, Preston & Rounds Co., r8gg- 

 16-mo., 142 pp. Price 75 cents. 



