For the wildflower lover, or the nature photographer, this little book will provide hours of enjoyment for a very small investment. It shows full color photographs (approximately 21/2 x 4 inches) of 55 plants of the Great Smoky Mountains, as well as giving common and scientific names, and a paragraph about each plant. The colors are rich, the details are good, the descriptions interesting and correct. The book has a place on every naturalist’s bookshelf.
This book is a useful addition to the increasing list of books treating diseases of special crops. It is well designed to accomplish the stated purpose of providing “assistance in balanced turfgrass management”. It has especial interest as the first comprehensive treatment of turfgrass diseases in this country. The uniform and systematic treatment of each disease under the headings of symptoms, the pathogen, host, disease cycle, and control, where such information is available, is to be commended. The appendix of five tables listing chemicals, diseases, and host plants, with cross references and page index, is one of the most valuable and useful aspects of the book.
Biology, an Introduction to the Science of Life, is apparently a very nice exposition of the subject. Dr. and Mrs. Golodnight have a lot of experience in the field, and Dr. Armacost also brought a lot of biological education-teaching experience to the book. The latter author was killed in an automobile accident before the book was finished, but contributed much of the botanical material.
An extremely well-done and attractive work is this volume by Helen V. Smith. It covers some 483 species, all of the common and. most of the rarer species in Michigan. The book does not include trees and shrubs, these being considered adequately covered in other works. Information as regards conservation as well as home propagation of wildflowers is given, and interesting information on economic values and uses is included.
As is well known by his friends and colleagues, Professor Andrews has an intense enthusiasm for paleobotany and, fortunately, for students and others who will use his book, it gains expression on nearly every page. Furthermore, the text, although precise and clear, is written in an almost conversational style which adds much to the pleasure of one’s reading.
This is a welcome addition to the aids available for the study of ecology. The guide is divided into two parts, part one covering principles and processes, and part two dealing with ecological techniques. Both parts are further divided into major areas of study, part one being concerned with the ecosystem and the community, energy economy, water economy, interrelations among organisms, aquatic ecosystems, primary succession, and secondary succession; part two follows the same plan and is subdivided into physiographic and historical studies, community inventories, and special techniques. There is a good, usable bibliography of recent literature.
Dr. A. B. Massey reports the discovery of Botrychium alabamense Maxon in Wise County, Virginia. This extends the range of the species north from Polk County, N. C., some 150 miles and into the range of Gray’s Manual. A more detailed report is to appear in the American Fern Journal.
Ranunculus ficaria L. was discovered in April, 1963 in abundance along Macfarlan Creek, Ritchie County, about fifteen miles from Harrisville. It was growing all along the creek for a distance of three miles or more, on land that would be under water when the stream was overflowing in spring floods. This is the first record of the species for West Virginia.
The first issue of The Michigan Botanist, published by The Michigan Botanical Club, appeared in March, 1962 (the actual date of mailing was February 21, 1962). Volume I was composed of two issues but starting with Volume II the periodical is scheduled to be published on a quarterly basis, the size of each issue depending upon the number of manuscripts accepted for publication, and upon the size of the subscription list. Annual subscriptions are $2; single copies of the first two issues are listed at $1.00.
The Eastern National Park and Monument Association announces a Grant-in-Aid Program to encourage original research in those areas of the National Park System located in the eastern part of the United States. Grants will be made to, qualified scholars, including graduate students, who will undertake studies in history or natural history that will contribute to the interpretation, management, or developmental programs of these National Park Service areas. The amounts of the grants will depend upon the nature of the research to be performed. Requests for information about the research grants should be made to the chairman of the Grant-in-Aid Committee of the Association, Dr. Edward M. Riley, Director of Research, Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia.