The Minneapolis journal., 1901-05-25
OTHER NEW BOOKS

OTHER NEW BOOKS
:f'F1Over Life''-A very delightful way
to study the science OF botany and to get at
the habits, the eceentrlcities, the pleasan-
tries Of flowers is to read Maud Going's
CIrs. 2. NJ. Hardinge) book, with the
Wild Flowers from Pussy Willow to Thistle
dom" CThe Baker and Taylor company
33-37 East Seventeenth street, New York
Price SD This lady is gifted with the fac
ulty OF easily and attractively communicating
the results Of her own study and observa-
ton of flowers to her readers. She dispenses
largely with scientific terminology and uses
plain English flower names. She makes the
study of the termination, fertilization, de-
yelopment Of flowers from the seeds and the
wonderful construction Of the flower and
plant most attractive. She writes as one
perfectly familiar with the ways OF flowers
Contact with flowers has given the author
q bright and cheerful style. Her descrip-
tion Of the budding process in the spring is
tdyHic whether she describes the pond lily
root ''hiding materials down in the depths,
which, at midsummer, fashioned into
white robes for her beautiful daughters" or
the preparation Of their pretty new dresses
BY the snowdrop, crocus, narcissus, hya-
clnth and ionquil. or the bursting OF the red
NAPLES into bloom when the robins and blue
birds are tuning up for the summer concer:
of birds, or the useful work Of the pollen
bearing bee, impregnating the pistil-bearing
blossoms. She lovingly records the coming
OF the shy anemone and its cousin, the pert
tue anemone, an early conner; the dandelion.
violet and its cousin, the pansy, and the
orchids, OF which the moccasin flower is
representative. very beautiful descrip-
tion is given Of the flowers which sleep at
night, like the daisies, who love the sun and
sleep when he is gone; and the portuluca
the clover leaves and oxalis. So the author
brings us through the summers procession Of
flowers 10 the late wild flowers of autumn,
when the campanula, cardinal flower, the
blue-eyed gentian and others bloom, and ali
the trees and plants are storing the living
principle Of their leaves down in trunk and
branches to wait the coming of the spring,
when the dead fiber Of branches and trunks
viii tingle with the resurrection life and
bursting buds Will be the order again. The
volume is a fine example Of the effectivs
teaching Of science through familiar Eng
Jish terms, favored with a charming aesthet-
icism.
The National Museum The annual
report of the board of regents of the Smith
sonian Institution, Washington, on the United
States National Museum shows that the sci
entihes collections have bsen increased to the
extent OF over 2le000 specimens. making
she total number Of specimens In the museum
over 45o00,VUvs DeslOes tnousanos OF specl-
mems of organisms in bottles The division
OF insects alone contains about a million
specimens. Field explorations have added
to the collections year after year, as have
donations from private parties. The purpose
Of the museum is to store and protect col
1ections for the purpose of study at the mu
seiuls and through duplicates. sent TO the ed
ucational institutions of the higher grade
throughout the country. The library con-
+osv hoo o-,d Ia4-
sfinplified Spellfng-The National Ed
ueatlonai association has issued in pamphlet
fern report Of the proceedings Of the de-
partment OF superintendent, at the meet
inge at Chicago, last February. There are
interesting papers and discussions on courses
OF study. grammar school training. need OF