THE AMERICAN BOTANIST 



39 



In "Agricultural Education in the Public Schools," Prof. 

 B. Davis discusses all the agencies in this country that have 

 helped to advance the art of agriculture. In addition to such 

 universally recognized aids as the United States Department of 

 Agriculture, the State Xormal Schools, Agricultural Colleges 

 and High Schools, he includes boys' Agricultural Clubs, Agri- 

 cultural Societies, Educational Publications and Periodical 

 Literature. The book is not cjuite a history of the develop- 

 ment of agriculture in America, nor yet a summary of what 

 has been done ; it is rather an encyclopedia to which the student 

 can turn for guidance in investigating any phase of the subject. 

 A bibliography of more than two hundred titles, with notes, 

 also facilitates this work. Such a book will be specially appre- 

 ciated by teachers who find themselves in positions where the 

 teaching of agriculture is among the recjuirements. It is an 

 octavo of 170 pages and is published by the University of 

 Chicag'o Press at $1.00 net. 



"Agronomy: a Course in Practical Gardening for High 

 Schools" is the title of a new book, by the editor of this maga- 

 zine, just issued by Ginn & Co. This volume, while it dis- 

 cusses the principles fundamental to any system of agidcultiu'e 

 is designed especially for schools in cities and towns and takes 

 up subjects likely to be of most use to an urban population. 

 The author regards agriculture as being divided into two co- 

 ordinate branches, agronomy and animal husbandry, and all 

 discussion of farm animals and their products is therefore 

 omitted. In its place are several chapters on landscape garden- 

 ing and the making of lawns, borders and the like. Earlier 

 chapters take up such matters as soils, fertilizers, weeds, till-, 

 age and the influence of lig'ht, warmth and moisture on the 

 plant, while pruning, spraying, propagation, and plant breeding 

 receive adequate attention. Each chapter discusses the prin- 

 ciples involved and is followed by directions for practical work. 

 Every effort has been made to show the city child how to make 



