THE AMERICAN BOTANIST 



77 



Since practically all teachers of agriculture include exper- 

 iments with soils in their courses, the ''Agricultural Laboratory 

 Manual — Soils," by E. J. Sell, should interest them. It is a 

 loose-leaf manual of 40 experiments and though this is a greater 

 number than can usually be included in a single course, it offers 

 a chance for selection to suit the wants of individual teachers. 

 The topics for study are well chosen and the directions seem 

 likely to save the teacher much labor in preparing for classes, 

 but one serious defect mars the book in the opinion of the re- 

 viewer. The author appears so anxious to have every experi- 

 ment come out exactly right that the student is frequently told 

 what he ought to find out for himself. The manual costs 35 

 cents and is published by Ginn & Co. 



In the language of plant students, 'Svildflower preserva- 

 tion" has two widely different meanings. To one group it 

 means preserving plants in museums and herbaria ; to the other 

 it means the prevention of preserving them in these same insti- 

 tutions. A little book issued by the F. A. Stokes Company, 

 with the title ''Wildflower Preservation", has tO' do with the 

 museum and herbarium side. It is a British book, written by 

 May Coley, and revised for American readers by C. A. Weath- 

 erby, and aims to aid the beginner in making an herbarium, and 

 in studying the plants. A good glossary with illustrations oc- 

 cupies about one-fifth of the book. While the volume may be 

 of considerable use to the tyro judged by professional stand- 

 ards, it is in some respects behind the times. The practical plant 

 collector would object to carrying with him much of the impedi- 

 menta recommended and will regret that there are not more 

 specific directions for handling" the lower orders of plant life. 

 The reviser betrays surprising unfamiliarity with American lit- 

 erature and such books as Bailey's ''Botanizing" seem all un- 

 known. The book, however, pretty accurately described Brit- 

 ish methods and is of interest on that account. It costs 

 $1.35 net. 



