Books and Current Literature. 



71 



must have an obvious relation to the recorded observations. 

 One looks eagerly for any additional thought or original views 

 concerning the general subject, that may serve as a justification 

 for the enormous output of facts, and finally the question arises 

 cui bono? Still it is quite certain that the time has not yet been 

 reached when hewers of wood and drawers of water can be 

 dispensed with in such studies, and when the time comes for 

 the realization of Schimper's ideal — impossible in his day — 

 namely, the clear explanation of the great facts of plant distri- 

 bution over the whole earth, those who come after us will 

 doubtless appraise such collections of data at their full value. 



The fourth volume of Trees, treating of their fruits, by the 

 late H. Marshall Ward, has just appeared from the press. It is 

 one of the publications of the well known Cambridge Biological 

 vSeries. It is refreshing for the student of botany to come 

 across a book having its contents stated in so clear and concise 

 a manner as this one has. Nearly all terms that are likely to 

 be confusing are explained as they occur, and frequently accom- 

 panied with excellent illustrations, of which the book contains 

 a good number. The relation of the various types of fruits 

 is discussed in the first half of the book, while the second half 

 is given over to a classification of trees and shrubs according to 

 their fruits and seeds. This book, which is interesting to 

 botanists, should prove especially valuable to students of gen- 

 eral botany and forestry, and also for the amateur. It should, 

 therefore, find a large sale. Though one more volume of this 

 series is yet to appear, it is very much to be regretted that the 

 author did not live to complete this work as originally outlined. 

 Messrs. G. P. Putnam's Sons, New York, afe the authorized 

 American publishers of this interesting volume, which costs 

 one and one-half dollars ($1.50). 



J. J. Thornber. 



