The herald., 1897-01-02
tEdited by s. NJ. Woodbridge, Phi. D.
(Address all communications of an agri-
cultural nature to The Agricultural Editor. J

(Edited by 8. NJ. Woodbridge, Phi. D.
(AddreSS all communicable of an agri
cultural nature to The Agricultural Editor.
THD EARTH HATH BUBBLES AS
,[HE WATER HATH, AND THESE
ARE OF THEM
A so-called review and criticism ir
the Botanical Journal OF the agricul
tural college at Berkeley reminds of tht
above quotation.
Mr.. Abbot Kinney has written bool
on the Eucalyptus, with view to Civ,
popular information regarding this re.
markable family Of the arboreal wort
ana TO promote its cultivation in oul
state. A gentleman in the east con
nected prominently with a state agri-
cultural college and experiment station
mas written us that until he read thu
volume he had mo idea of the proper
tieS' of the tree. No candid person, we
believe, can fall to admit that the re-
suits OF a large and intelligent study oi
the subject are here brought together
and that the work Is admirably adapted
TO DO just what ii was written to do
But 1t seems that Mr.. Kinney has the
misfortune. In the eyes of the Berkeley
ans. to be Mr. Kinney, and his book must
suner the consequences. of being found
in such bad company. Accordingly thg
Erythea, the journal of botany pub
lished at Berkeley. reviews and seeks to
Satirize the book. We have seldom read
book notice written in worse or
more unscientific temper. The writer is
'confounded at Mr.. Kinneys audac-
lty. In single paragraph he is twice
accused of gross" errors. He is charged
with conceit. He did not know what he
put In and what to leave out. He is
not botanist, but "tyro. uracQuainted
with either the science or etiquette of
potany. He ls called a plagiarlst be-
cause the Glossary in the volume is
taken from Gray's First Lessons IN
Botany. This is as absurd as to say that
1t Is plagiarism to take definition from
dictionary or to copy the multip,ioa-
tion table. We quote from the Erythea:
Mr.. Kinney supplies a glossary for the
use OF his non n-bota anlcal readers. IT is
copied from Gray's First Lessons in
Botany, word for word, save that the
references to figures and definitions in
the text are omitted by Mr.. Kinney.
5ometlmes the results are disastrous.
Tor instance. where we read Accessory
something additional. as accessory
puds. The person who would be the
wiser Tor reading such definition would
surely not have any use for GLOSSARY
Again. 'Anatropous or anatropal oyules
and seeds This is positively misleading
and makes 1t appear that anatropous
is synonymous with ovules and anatro-
pal with seeds. Where Gray referred
entirely to the text for Il defirition
Kinney has omitted the word altogether.
evidently from lack of ability to give
an original definition or knowledge of
any other place in which to find one
a further proof that he is not botanist."
rms professional botanist from Ber-
Kelley, paid from the public furds. in
MS eagerness to say something "cussed"
ABOUT Mr.. Kinney has made two fatal
errors IN the above paragraph which
WIN compel the public 10 write the au-
tnor or 1t down IN ass. He has misqucted
from the glossary, which reads Anatro-
pous or anatropal ov,ies or seeds. rot
and The last clause should read.
"a further proof Gray IS not botanist.'
not he" (kMney) for 1t is Professor
Trays glossary that Is being criticised.
not Kinneys.
But a broadside must be trained
against Mr.. Kinney. though Professor
Hray IS WITHIN range OF the popguns
brought to bear.
Mr.. Kinney frorl first to last has
lreeiy acknowledged his obligation to
authors and other laborers in the varied
I.elus or science aud has even gone so
Tar as TO give special list OF such as
slstants, though We believe thai the
name OF no Berkeleyan appears among
them, unfortunat for the reputation
OF the agricultural college. which should
nave bcen pioneer in forestry.
we peg, also. to assure the Berkelevan
eayans that they need not distress
themselvei to offer excuses to the Aus
trailan botanist5 in behalf of Mr. Kin
hey, Tor II was among them in the
native habitat OF the eucalyptus that he
studied the subject Of his book. and he
mas Kept himself in frequent correspon-
Ience with eminent authorities among
them.
But, In conclusion, we must ask wbv
Is California called to devote its funds
10 support men TO make such unwar-
Tanted attacks on those who. like Mi
Kinney, are seeking to subserve its
varied interests, and to pronounce on
euch q book SO sweeping, Indefinite and
iil-natured comment as that they
really fail to see what use the book
VIII pe to anyone" If the Berkeleyans
cannot build up they can at least at
tempt to pull down, ard at the public
expense.