BOOK REVIEWS. 



653 



Dr. Eennie has followed this idea all through his book, and has been 

 able to avoid the one serious pitfall that exists in it — that of uncon- 

 sidered meandering, and has shown, on the other hand, how a unity of 

 idea may be aimed at while using a multitude of diverse materials. 



We heartily commend the book to all teachers who desire to intro- 

 duce the Nature-study idea into their teaching. 



"How to Teach Nature Study: a Practical Working Guide for 

 Teachers." By T. W. Hoare, 8vo., xxii + 316 pp. (Sidgwick & 

 Jackson, London, 1910.) 3s. 6>d. net. 



Much of this book trespasses out of the realm of Nature Study into 

 that of experimental science and is thus suited for an older type of 

 pupil than that for whom Nature Study is generally intended. There 

 are some useful observational exercises in it, and suggestions as 

 to what to look for in rambles near the school. The book, however, 

 seems to lack cohesion in places, and the teacher will probably find it 

 more useful for its hints on the making of aquaria, vivaria, and so on, 

 and for directions as to the preparation of specimens, than for its other 

 parts. The directions for the making of simple apparatus and for 

 simple experiments are very clear as a rule, though where deductions 

 are drawn from experiments the deductions should be amply justified. 

 Children old enough to profit by the experimental method should always 

 be taught to examine carefully into any inferences they may draw, 

 and no slipshod methods of reasoning should be allowed. We think 

 here and- there the book might be improved if greater attention had 

 been paid to this — as, for instance, at p. 158. Better one experiment 

 thoroughly worked out and well understood than a multitude only 

 imperfectly grasped. 



We should also like to see fewer teleological explanations of plant 

 structures than appear in the book. 



After all, however, we can agree with all the author says as to 

 Nature Study as a natural educational force; and we realize that not 

 the matter but the method counts for most, and that not so much 

 in the content of the course, but the intent of it, lies its value. 



" Tillers of the Ground." By Marion I. Newbigin, D.Sc. Svo., 

 viii + 224 pp. (Macmillan, London, 1910.) Is. 6d. 



The aim of this little book, which is one of the ' ' Eeadable Books in 

 Natural Knowledge," is to show how progress in plant cultivation has 

 developed from its early beginnings in far-back years of man's history 

 and among primitive (and indolent) peoples of the present day to its 

 highest developments under the most advanced civilization. The task 

 has been achieved with success and a very readable and informing little 

 book is the result, setting out some of the ways in which scientific work 

 has assisted practical life in this direction and showing how promising 

 is the outlook for the future if practice will take science as her hand- 

 maid and her guide. 



