—24— 



seem of most importance to him, but any student of microscopic 

 botany will find this equally instructive and valuable. We note 

 that the illustrations for this part are mostly taken from drug 

 plants. The book is well printed, well bound and contains 

 numerous illustrations. 



The description of plants in language adapted to the needs 

 of the ordinary reader is not uncommon, but Prof. Conway Mac- 

 Millan is probably the first to attempt this treatment for an" entire 

 flora. ' 'Minnesota Plant Life,"* therefore, is likely to receive more 

 than a passing survey by botanists. The book begins with the 

 algae and following the arrangement of Engler and Prantl pro- 

 ceeds upward to the composites, giving a great amount of inter- 

 esting and valuable data regarding the haunts and habits of the 

 plant families of Minnesota. The language used can scarcely 

 fail to make the book attractive to those non-botanical' readers 

 for whom it is intended, but it is a question whether its useful" 

 ness is not somewhat impaired by the omission of the scientific 

 names. In his desire to avoid the use of too many technical 

 terms, the author seems to have gone to the other extreme and 

 used too few. Common names are altogether too unstable to be 

 trusted to stand alone for the species. This, however, is the only 

 fault we can find in the book. It is entertainingly written and 

 much better printed than the usual State report. There are 

 nearly five hundred illustrations, a large number from photo- 

 graphs. All in all, the book is the type of what we should like 

 to see from other States. It is probable that botany would have 

 a much larger following if such books were common. 



* " Minnesota Plant Life." by Conway MacMillan Report of the Sur- 

 vey; Botanical Series HI.; St. Paul. Minn., i8gq. 8-vo , 568 pp. 



THE LINNAEAN FERN CHAPTER 



OF THE AGASSIZ ASSOCIATION. 



— The October election resulted in the selection of the following 

 officers for 1900: President, William R. Maxon ; Vice-President, 

 B. D. Gilbert; Secretary, Prof. W. Alphonso Murrill; Treasurer, 

 James A. Graves. A full report of the election will be published 

 in the annual report. — C. 



— A revised list of members will be published in the annual 

 report. All changes of address should be sent to the Treasurer 

 at once. — C. 



