BOOK NOTICES

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · Sep 13, 1910

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 37, No. 36.

"California Fruits and How to Grow Them." By Edward J. Wickson, A.M. Fifth edition, revised and extended, 600 large octavo pages, well illustrated. Price, postpaid, $3.00. Pacific Rural Press, San Francisco.

The author of this book is dean and professor of agriculture in the College of Agriculture of the University of California, director and horticulturist of the Agricultural Experiment Station, author of "California Vegetables in Garden and Field," editor of The Pacific Rural Press, member of the National Council of Horticulture, etc. In other words, Professor Wickson has had large, truly scientific experience in the things of which he writes. One of the reasons of many intelligent but misdirected failures in California fruit-growing is dependence upon books and instruction written for Eastern climates, Eastern conditions, Eastern soils, and Eastern seasons. These books are often well-written handbooks by experienced men, and give much general knowledge, but fail in crucial places. Professor Wickson's book is for California soils, fruit-growers, conditions, and difficulties. It presents the methods which have yielded the largest returns, and it tells the reader the fruits best adapted to the different parts of the state. It deals with soils and climates, with preparation and cultivation, orchard fruits, semi-tropical fruits, small fruits, nuts, fruit preservation, fruit protection from insects and diseases, and miscellaneous. A copious index directs you to anything you wish to find. California fruit-growers are greatly indebted to Professor Wickson. It is the chief of handbooks in fruit-growing.

"Bible Nature Series, Number Two." By Marion E. Cady. Cloth, illustrated. Price $1.35. Pacific Press Publishing Association, Mountain View, California.

This is book two in a series of three. It is a natural development of geography, physiology, and other elementary sciences with the Bible and nature as the basis. The book starts with the plan of God in the beginning, as revealed in Genesis, and extends out into the plant, sidereal, and animal fields. In a general way it considers the whole plan of God as regards this earth. The author believes that God's plan is reasonable, orderly, and logical, and this work is a progressive study along God's revealed plan. The book is not alone adapted to school work, but may be used in home study as well.

"Race Assimilation, or the Fading Leopard's Spots." By Prof. John James Holm. Strikingly and bountifully, if not beautifully illustrated. Price, postpaid, $1.50. J. L. Nichols & Company, Napierville, Illinois; Atlanta, Georgia.

Ten Afro-Americans have contributed chapters or essays. The book claims to be "a complete scientific exposition of the most tremendous question that has ever confronted two races in the world's history." The author repudiates the superiority of the pure-blood race theory; he strongly suggests that the Japanese may settle in the South and solve the race question by amalgamation and multiplication; advocates the sterilization of criminals; believes that the illicit intercourse between the sexes of the races is responsible for the growing criminality. His remedy is amalgamation, which he believes will go on despite all that men can do, and that ere long a pure-blooded white or pure-blooded Negro can not be found in the South. The book is a frank, open discussion from the phrenological view-point. "The way out" is thus summed up: "An open, unprejudiced intermarriage union, scientific care of the criminal class of both races, with a natural modulated separation of the races, without any state interference, just as the conscience and religious convictions may dictate to the men and women of a free country, and an education on the broad basis of universal brotherhood—these are the essentials in overcoming clannishness and color lines and in establishing a united people in these United States." Its little theology is unbiblical.

"Writing on the Clouds." By Arthur Newman. Price 90 cents net. Sherman, French & Company, Boston, Massachusetts.

The book consists of thirteen essays on religious topics and experiences, especially developing the spiritual idea, and emphasizing great facts of life in a suggestive, helpful way.

"Concrete from Sand Molds." By A. A. Houghton. Well and instructively illustrated. Price $2.00. The Norman W. Henley Publishing Company, 132 Nassau Street, New York City.

In these days when lame and backward conservation plans have allowed our forests to be cut away or burned up, or lenient governments have permitted them to be absorbed by great capitalists or syndicates, and in consequence the price of timber is constantly on the increase, of necessity men must more and more turn to other building materials, among which none offers a more promising field than concrete. Until quite recently concrete work has been generally crude and coarse, but "the old order changeth." The book above noted is a splendid assistance to the concrete worker. It is a practical treatise, explaining a simple system of molding ornamental and plain concrete with molds of wet sand. This very process has been held as a trade secret, but is so no longer. The book is written in clear, plain language so that any intelligent workman can comprehend the directions, and find an open field of large and comparatively inexpensive possibilities.

"From Text to Talk." By Addison Ballard, D.D. Cloth. Price $1.20. Sherman, French & Company, Boston, Massachusetts.

The object of the book seems to be to place old and important truths in new settings. It is designed to be a companion book to the author's "From Talk to Text." There are forty-three chapters in the book; and so far as we have read them, at random, live, earnest, spiritual, uplifting talks they are, abounding in epigram, and strong terse sayings; for instance: "Christianity"—this for its grand distinction, that it begins where the best unchristianized disposition leaves off." "Has the young man or woman away at school or college found home-love dying out of his or her heart? To that extent, then, is he or she low-lived." Here are some of the chapter titles: "Christianity a Religion of Facts;" "Contrariwise;" "The Silent Life;" "The Cross a Symbol of Obedience;" "Love's 'Finally;'" "The Early Morning Outfit of Prayer."

"Michael Servetus: His Life and Teaching." By Carl Theophilus Odhner. Cloth. Price 50 cents. J. B. Lippincott Company, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

The historical part of the little book gives a juster setting to the controversy between Servetus and Calvin, and does not place "the pope of Geneva" in the best light. Whatever his errors, Servetus stood on Protestant ground, while that of Calvin was purely papal. A résumé is given of the theology of Servetus. The book would be worth more if it had less of Swedenborgianism.

"Ornamental Concrete Without Molds." By A. A. Houghton. Cloth, well illustrated. Price $2.00. The Norman W. Henley Publishing Company, 132 Nassau Street, New York City.

This little book claims to be a working manual containing everything that a concrete worker needs to know to perfect the many styles of ornamental concrete work without the purchase of expensive molds. It sets forth a system of molding from templates. The work is designed for the concrete worker and for the small contractor who can not afford to purchase expensive molds for the many varieties of work he is called upon to do, as well as for the artist workman. Instruction for making the inexpensive templates is given.

"Animal Stories for Little People." Seventy illustrations. Price 50 cents. Henry Altemus Company, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

This is an interesting little book in which the animals are made to talk and tell their own stories and reveal their own characters. Many of the illustrations are in color.