Page:Popular Science Monthly Volume 30.djvu/287

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the theory of his book, the compiler says: "One of the best means of language-training is reading a selection to a grade or class, and requiring them to reproduce it in writing. The value of such exercises consists in the natural and easy way in which the pupil gains a command of language. Written reproductions from memory form the best basis to lead into original composition, and what, moreover, is of the utmost importance, they give the pupil an opportunity by his own practice to discover his errors and inaccuracies, and to work out of them. Through careful and suggestive criticism by the teacher, all the principles of composition become known; not, of course, in a formulated way, but in that way which gives the pupil power to avoid errors without being hampered by rules." The aim has been to supply a series of exercises suitable for such reproductions. The book is divided into three parts, of which the first consists of selections purely narrative or descriptive in character, such as experience has proved are best adapted for beginners. In the second part, the selections contain quotations, and are more difficult of punctuation; and the third part contains matter adapted to advanced grammar grades and classes in rhetoric. Suggestions to teachers are given at the beginning of each part.

Commissioner reports a great extension of the possibilities of usefulness of the Commission, by means of the steamers with which it has been furnished; and much has been attempted as well as accomplished. In addition to the regular work of the Commission, it has become possible to do a great deal for the advancement of science in general, especially by prosecuting researches into the general natural history of animals and plants. The very large collections made by the Commission, after setting aside a full series for the National Museum, have been divided into arranged, classified, and labeled sets, and distributed to colleges, academies, and other institutions of learning throughout the United States. Among the objects which the Commission hopes to accomplish are the continued acquisition of information respecting fresh-and salt-water fish; improvement of old methods and apparatus of fishing and the introduction of new ones; improvement in the pattern of fishing-vessels; to determine the extent and general character of the old fishing localities, and discover new ones; to improve methods of curing and packing fish for market; and continued increase in the supply of valuable fishes, etc., in the waters of the United States. The present report contains many articles of general value. Among them are accounts of the species of fish cultivated and distributed in 1883; accounts of the work of the steamer Albatross, by Lieutenant-Commanding Tanner, and of its results in natural history and biology, by A. E. Verrill and Katherine J. Bush, liberally illustrated; and reports on the propagation of food-fishes at the several stations. Doubtless, these papers, a large number of which are published as an appendix to the report, are all of great value to some persons; but they are not of equal value to all. It is not desirable that any one wishing for one or a few of them should be burdened with so unwieldy a volume as the one before us. It would perhaps be as well to publish many of them in separate volumes, accessible to the general public, as well as in the ponderous shape in which they now appear.

report is essentially a revised edition of the Commission's Bulletin No. 3, and is the final report on the cotton-worm, together with a chapter on the boll-worm. The cotton-worm investigation was begun in the spring of 1878, under an appropriation of five thousand dollars, and has been conducted with the purpose of getting at the exact truth, and for practical ends. Hence purely entomological knowledge has been subordinated to that which may be made of practical use to the planter; and descriptive matter