to the Chlorophyceae (or green alga). The 51 plates illustrate every species and variety observed and are to be commended for their accuracy and beauty. Several of the forms are here figured for the first time, but even where earlier figures have been published these have often appeared in scattered papers difficult of access. It is therefore a great satisfaction to have these new figures gathered together in a single work. A. W. E. 7. An Introduction to Bacterial Diseases in Plants; by ERWIN F. SMITH. Pp. xxx, 688, with frontispiece and 453 illustrations. Philadelphia and Iondon, 1920 (W. B. Saunders Company).— The rapid advances made in the important field of bacterial plant diseases are intimately associated with the investigations of Dr. Smith. The present volume will therefore be most welcome, not only to plant pathologists but to botanists in general. The material presented is divided into five parts. The first deals with the more general features of bacterial diseases, the following subjects being among those discussed: distribution among the families of flowering plants, period of greatest susceptibility, method of infection, morphological and cultural features of the bacteria, reactions of the host plant. The second part takes up in detail the methods of research. The third, which occupies 340 pages, gives full descriptions of fourteen important bacterial diseases of economic plants, each being accompanied by references to the literature. The fourth part suggests subjects for special study, discusses the formation of tumors in plants, and gives an account of teratosis in the absence of both tumors and parasites, using for illustration the remarkable Begonia phyllomaniaca. The concluding part contains excellent advice to the botanist and especially to the plant pathologist regarding research work and matters pertaining to it either directly or indirectly. The book is profusely illustrated, many of the figures being photomicrographs of diseased plant tissues, reproduced by fine half tones. A. W. E. 8. Text-book of Pastoral and Agricultural Botany, for the Study of the Injurious and Useful Plants of Country and Farm; by JOHN W. HARSHBERGER Pp. xiii, 294, with 121 text-figures. Philadelphia, 1920 (P. Blakiston's Son & Co.).-For the past twenty-five years the author has given a course in botany to a class of veterinary students, and the present volume is based upon this course. As might be expected some of the topics treated do not find a place in the usual text-books of botany. This is particularly true of the first nine chapters, in which poisonous plants are discussed, not only from the standpoint of their botanical features but also from the standpoint of the various symptoms which they produce in poisoned animals. The remaining chapters deal with important food plants, with soilnitrogen, with weeds, and with agricultural seeds. A full bibliography is given at the close of each chapter, and directions for laboratory work are interspersed throughout. A. W. E. 9. Heredity and Evolution in Plants; by C. STUART GAGER, Director of the Brooklyn Botanic Garden. Pp. v, 265, with 112 text-figures. Philadelphia, 1920 (P. Blakiston's Son & Co.). -The author here gives us a revision of certain chapters in his Fundamentals of Botany, published in 1916. These chapters furnished a concise but very clear treatment of the various theories connected with the heredity and evolution of plants, strong emphasis being laid upon recent experimental methods of investigation. Two chapters, not in the earlier work, deal with geographical distribution of plants and with the great taxonomic groups into which plants have been divided. A valuable bibliography concludes the volume. A. W. E. 10. Diseases of Economic Plants; by F. L. STEVENS and J. G. HALL; revised edition by F. L. STEVENS. Pp. vii, 507, with 237 text-figures. New York, 1921 (The Macmillan Company).-The first edition of the present work was published in 1910. The revised edition is designed to meet the special needs of college students, and a part of the revision consists in the rearrangement of the subject matter. Many diseases of major importance, however, have come into prominence during the past ten years and descriptions of these naturally find a place in the new volume. There are likewise a number of new illustrations, and certain modifications of treatment are recommended. With but few exceptions the diseases discussed are these caused by fungous parasites. A. W. E. 11. The Nature-Study of Plants in Theory and Practice for the Hobby-Botanist; by THOMAS ALFRED DYMES. Pp. xviii, 173, with frontispiece, 5 plates and 51 text-figures. London, 1920 (Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge).—The subjectmatter of this attractive little book is divided into two parts, the first entitled "Theory" and the second "Practice." In the first part the scope of nature-study is defined, and the various "factors of life" are discussed with reference to the "life and preservation of the individual" and also with reference to the "preservation of the race. In the second part a common British plant, the Herb Robert (which is likewise common in North America), is thoroughly considered in its numerous aspects, the life-history being followed step by step from the germination of seed to the dispersal of the ripened fruitlets. The intensive study of a single species, which is here recommended, meets the approval of Professor F. E. Weiss, of Manchester, who has supplied an introductory note to the volume. A. W. E. 12. The Chemistry of Plant Life; by RoscOE W. THATCHER. (McGraw-Hill Book Co.), New York. Pp. xi, 268.-This is a text-book of biochemistry written for the use of students of botany and drawing its illustrations from the facts and problems of the plant kingdom. The volume presupposes training in inorganic and organic chemistry on the part of the reader. It deals with composition rather than the dynamics of living matter, but its chemistry is of the up-to-date variety. Something of this sort-a diminutive Czapek-has long been needed for the use of those workers in biochemistry who are interested primarily in plant rather than animal tissues. L. B. M. IV. MISCELLANEOUS SCIENTIFIC INTELLIGENCE. 1. The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. Summary of Fifteenth Annual Report of the President, HENRY S. PRITCHETT, and Treasurer, ROBERT A. FRANKS. Pp. vi, 171. New York, 1920 (522 Fifth Avenue).-The total resources of the Carnegie Foundation now amount to $24,628,000, of which $15,192,000 belong to the permanent general endowment, $7,571,000 to a reserve fund to be spent in the retirement (during the next sixty years) of teachers now in associated institutions, $1,250,000 to the endowment of the Division of Educational Enquiry, and $390,000 to a reserve fund to be expended in aiding universities and colleges to adopt the new plan of contractual annuities. During the fifteen years of its existence the Foundation has distributed nearly $8,000,000 in retiring allowances and pensions to 909 persons. Of this Harvard has received $625,000, Yale, $548,000, and Columbia, $464,000. Sixteen other universities have each received between one and two hundred thousand dollars each. The remainder has gone to eighty different institutions. There are now operative 356 retiring allowances and 199 widows' pensions, entailing an annual expenditure of $870,670. The average retiring allowance paid is $1,568. During the past year three institutions, Bryn Mawr College, Queen's University, and Whitman College, were added to the list of associated institutions, and twelve institutions, in addition to the twenty-nine that had already done so, formally adopted the new plan of contractual annuities-The Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association of America, established by the Foundation to provide insurance and annuity protection for college teachers without overhead charges, has written 653 insurance policies covering $3,356,747 of insurance and 554 annuity contracts providing $624,398 annual income at retirement. The special features of the new retiring allowance system of Harvard University are discussed at some length. By this plan each teacher appointed for more than one year is required to contribute 10 per cent of his annual salary to a fund which is to be invested by the Corporation and to be used, together with its accumulations, to purchase at his retirement an annuity in some company approved by the Corporation. The general subject of pension legislation is also treated in detail as in earlier reports, and many points open to criticism are pointed out. Attention is called to the fourteenth bulletin on the training of teachers for public schools (see vol. 50, p. 171); also to a third bulletin on legal education soon to appear. 2. National Academy of Sciences.-The annual meeting of the National Academy of Sciences will be held at the Natural History building, U. S. National Museum, in Washington on April 25, 26, and 27. The preliminary program of scientific sessions gives a list of 33 papers to be presented. It is also announced that an address will be delivered Monday evening by Albert I, Prince of Monaco, Agassiz medalist, in the auditorium of the U. S. National Museum. A reception follows the address. 3. Science News Bulletin.-The establishment of an organization for the purpose of familiarizing the general reading public with the progress of scientific research has been recently established in connection with the National Research Council. The new organization, to be known as "Science Service" has been substantially endowed and is chartered as a non-profit-making corporaion. Its control is vested in a board of Trustees composed of ten scientists and five journalists. The National Academy of Sciences, the American Association for the Advancement of Science and the National Research Council each elects three trustees. The personnel of the first board of trustees is announced as follows: A. A. Noyes, R. A. Millikan, John C. Merriam, D. T. MacDougal, George I. Moore, J. McKeen Cattell, George E. Hale, Vernon Kellogg, R. M. Yerkes, E. W. Scripps, R. P. Scripps, W. E. Ritter, William Allen White, Chester H. Rowell, Edwin F. Gay. The charter of the new organization is a wide one, authorizing Science Service to employ newspapers, periodicals, books, lectures, conferences, motion pictures and any similar educational agencies in the distribution of scientific information. Edwin E. Slosson is to be the editor of Science Service. The policy of the Service is to be one of cooperation rather than competition with existing press associations, news agencies and syndicates. It will aim to supply accurate and interesting articles on all branches of science and technology at the lowest possible cost. Offices have been opened in the National Research Council Building, 1701 Massachusetts Avenue, Washington. 4. French-English Medical Dictionary; by ALFRED GORDON. Pp. 161 (P. Blakiston's Son & Co.) Philadelphia.-The recrudescence of interest in French medical literature is one of the by-products of the World War. It lends timeliness to the publication of glossaries of scientific expressions, particularly in those fields, like medicine, where progress has been rapid and the technical vocabulary has been expanded by the addition of many new words. Gordon's dictionary is compact and easily used. One is surprised by an occasional omission such as that of "anaphylaxie, a preeminently French contribution to science, not to mention missing up-to-date expressions like "vitamine" and "opsonine." The book has an excellent simple scheme for aiding in the correct pronunciation of each French word. L. B. M. 5. Laboratory Manual for the Detection of Poisons and Powerful Drugs; fifth American edition; by WILHELM AUTENRIETH and WILLIAM H. WARREN. Pp. xv, 342. Philadelphia (P. Blakiston's Sons & Co.).-There are all too few dependable manuals of toxicology published in the English language. Among them the translated edition of Autenrieth's well known "Auffindung der Gifte" has attained a deserved popularity. The present book is essentially like the fourth American edition, the only change of importance being the introduction of tests for wood alcohol by the translator, Dr. Warren. L. B. M. 6. An Introduction to Chemical Pharmacology; by HUGH MCGUIGAN. Pp. xii, 418. Philadelphia (P. Blakiston's Son & Co.). This is different from any book which we can recall, bearing the title of Pharmacology. It is essentially a very compact compendium of facts derived for the most part from organic chemistry and biochemistry and classified according to a chemist's scheme. Indeed it is almost cyclopedic in character. It is well enough to recognize the current popularity of the chemical viewpoint in the biological sciences; but chemical classification, structural formulas, and tests for the identification of drugs are only a part of the equipment needed by the student to realize the "reactions of living matter brought about by drugs.' The selection of topics seems almost too comprehensive. Why, for example, should a "Method for Preparing Pectin" be incorporated in a book for students of pharmacology? Numerous topics, particularly such as deal with the metabolism of foods, also seem out of place in such a volume which can at most supplement, not replace, the conventinal textbooks on the action of drugs. L. B. M. 7. New York State Income Tax Procedure, 1921; by ROBERT H. MONTGOMERY. Pp. ix, 682. New York, 1921. Montgomery's Tax Procedure, 1921, volume III (The Ronald Press Company; price $5, in cloth).-Mr. Montgomery's New York State Income Tax Procedure, 1921, is an outgrowth and amplification of that portion of his 1920 edition of Income Tax Procedure in which he discussed the differences between the New York State procedure and the Federal income tax procedure. He deals at length with the New York personal income tax and more briefly with the New York franchise tax on corporations. Several appendices are also included, and of considerable value. One of these contains a set of the various forms as at present used, filled in in some instances so as to serve as illustrations, and another contains the opinions handed down by the courts in various cases which have come before them with reference to New York income tax matters. The book should prove of great assistance to those who have to prepare returns either for individuals or for corporations under the present New York laws. In dealing in quite limited space with any such complex subject there must of necessity be many questions left unanswered and many topics only superficially discussed, but considering the space at the author's disposal, he covers the subject quite fully. J. D. D. |