Excerpt from Scientific American Magazine

OUR BOOK CORNER The Editors Recommend them are given in both word and pic- ture. Indeed, the book is extremely Best 10. THE SCIENTIFIC AMERI- well illustrated with plates showing CAN CYCLOPEDIA OF (Revised List) finished work of all kinds and hun- Sellers FORMULAS-B: A. A. Hopkins. A standard reference volume of 22. SUNDIALS-By R. Newton and Margaret L. Mayall. dreds of design types, symbolisms, more than 15,000 formulas. In- The best book on sundials. A in Science dispensable in the laboratory, practical work by a landscape and conventionalizations. (289 pages, workshop, home. $5.50 in U. S.; architect and a professional as- $6.00 elsewhere. 6 1/2 by 9 1/2 inches.) -$4.10 postpaid. tronomer. Illustrated. $2.10 -F. D. M. 1. SOILLESS GROWTH OF 11. PERSPECTIVE MADE PLANTS-B3 Carleton Ellis EASY-By Ernest R. Nor- 23. A MARRIAGE MANUAL- By Hannah M. Stone, M.D., and Milton W. Swaney. Complete ling. For draftsmen and artists, and Abraham Stone, M.D. A information, popularly pre- this volume tells the things they GETTING MORE OUT OF LIFE practical guide to sex and mar- sented, regarding the problems should know but often don't- riage, covering fitness for mar- and difficulties of tank farming. all the details of perspective, By Joseph Jastrow, Ph.D., LL.D. riage, mechanism of reproduc- Formulas for chemicals and in- simply explained and illustra- tion, prevention of conception, structions for preparing tanks ted so that all rules may be and similar vital subjects. An- a variety of things are treated and other containers are given. easily grasped, progressively, swers questions most often Recommended to both experi- from simple to complicated and readably in this book asked these authors by their menters and commercial grow- forms. $1.85 consultants. $2.60 by one of America's noted psycholo- ers. $2.85 12. MEN, MIRRORS AND gists (president of the American Psy- STARS-B3 G. Edward 24. PROCEDURE HAND 2. GROWING PLANTS WITH- BOOK OF ARC WELD- OUT SOIL - By D. R. Mat- Pendray. New edition of a very chological Association) that its scope ING DESIGN AND PRACTICE- lin. Plant chemiculture in full popular book. Chief addition is Lincoln Electric Co. Sixth edi- can be suggested only by selecting a detail, plus discussions of plant a chapter on the 200-inch tele- tion of a famous book covering scope. $3.10 few items at random: superstitions, environment, root-growing sub- every phase of arc welding in stances, cuttings, insect pests, plant food deficiency, planting 13. ATOMIC ARTILLERY- detail. Limp leatheret, III7 complexes, always tired, psychoanaly- By John Kellock Robert- pages, several thousand illus- sis, the jitters, the lie detector, ap- calendars, related subjects. son. Electrons, protons, posi- trations. $2.10 trons, photons, neutrons, and In U. S. A. $1.50 praising memory cults, wish think- cosmic rays in plain language. Elsewhere $2.00 ing, living sensibly, recruiting our 3. GROWING PLANTS IN NU- TRIENT SOLUTIONS - By Also transmutation of the ele- Wayne I. Turner and Victor M. ments and manufacture of ar- 25. SCIENTIFIC METHOD- reserves, inferiority feeling, hysteria, By F. W. Westaway. An Henry. Slightly more techni- tificial radioactivity. $2.35 omnibus of the scientific method sense of humor-and so on and on, cal, complete data on tank farm- for those who wish to learn to ing, making equipment, mixing 14. JANE'S FIGHTING SHIPS, always entertainingly, always scien- 1939. Latest edition of a think straight. Clearly written solutions. Also chemistry and world-famed London authority for the serious person who, tifically. A book which, without work mathematics of solutions, analy- on all world navies. Discus- after reading it, will feel that or study, will increase one's fund of sis of chemicals, sources, plant sions, data, photographs, sil- his thinking processes have physiology, technique of nitro- houettes, details of construc- been melted down and recast. scientific knowledge about common gen-potassium balance, etc. $3.85 tion. A "must" reference for aspects of life. (312 pages, 51/4 by 8 $3.10 all with naval interests. $22.50 26. MACHINERY'S HAND- inches, unillustrated.)- post- 4. THE COMPLETE GUIDE TO BOOK - Tenth Edition. SOILLESS GARDENING - 15. THE MYSTERIOUS UNI- "Bible of the mechanical indus- paid.-A. G. I. VERSE - By Sir James By Dr. William F. Gericke. The Jeans. Covers a remarkably try," enlarged to 1815 pages of man who invented soilless gar- latest standards, data, and in- broad territory, touching on ev- dening has at last prepared this formation required daily in the THINGS A BOY CAN DO WITH erything new in modern phys- comprehensive and authentic ics, astrophysics, and cosmol- shop and drafting room. $6.10 CHEMISTRY guide covering all phases of this ogy. Many men of science now fascinating work. For amateur 27. WOODWORKING AS A are leaning toward a non-ma- HOBBY Emanuele By Alfred Morgan and professional. $2.85 terialistic interpretation of the Stieri. Practical instructions for universe and Jeans is one of choosing and using tools to your son has a "feeling" for 5. SCIENCE EXPERIENCES hese.-(Formerly $2.40.) Now make all manner of wooden WITH HOME EQUIPMENT $1.10 articles.- $3.10 science, this volume will give him a -By C. J. Lynde. A book of 200 simple home tricks based on start by showing him how to do the physical laws, each experiment many simple tricks with simple being illustrated and its princi- 16. PLASTICS, PROBLEMS AND PROCESSES-By Dale E. Mansperger and Carson W. Pepper. For hobbyists ple explained. $1.45 and experimenters, this volume gives a large number of chemicals which we oldsters did as 6. THE ENGINEER'S SKETCH- detailed plans and instructions for making all kinds of boys. How to make crystals and then BOOK OF MECHANICAL useful and ornamental articles from tubes, rods, sheets, MOVEMENTS-By Thomas Wal- and blocks of plastics. $2.70 use them for such things as simple ter Barber. Working drawings barometers; exploring the uses of 17. MOLDING AND CASTING-B1 Carl Dame Clark. of practically every conceivable Use of wax, plaster, sulphur and other materials in litmus paper with vinegar and baking movement, device, appliance, casting. For craftsmen, criminologists, dentists, artists, and contrivance employed in etc. $4.60 soda; extracting nitrogen from the the design and construction of machinery for every purpose. 18. HOUSE CONSTRUCTION DETAILS-Compiled By air by using a candle and a jar; freez- Nelson L. Burbank. For architects, contractors, Nearly 3000 illustrations. $4.35 builders. Practically every cenceivable house construction ing kerosene; running a small steam engine with dry ice; burning alumi- 7. SUPERSONICS-B Prof. R. detail in drawings, photographs, discussion. Has a Shop- W. Vood. A great deal of crafter's Corner. $3.10 num powder; making a battery with data on science of inaudible sounds, their every aspect, phy- 19. THE HANDY MAN'S HANDBOOK-B9 c. T. Schae- fer. Fourth edition of a very popular book-a prac- a lemon, a strip of copper, and a strip sical and biological, by a noted tical manual on the use of tools and how to do all sorts of of zinc; and numerous other similar physicist-inventor. Has bibliog- odd jobs around the home. $1.10 raphy of articles on subject in experiments are fully described in many journals. $2.10 simple terms and illustrated in this 20. CAMPS AND COTTAGES 28. TOOL MAKING-By C. B. 8. OH DOCTOR! MY FEET!- HOW TO BUILD THEM Cole. Instructions for volume. It would give a boy a solid By Dudley J. Morton, M.D. YOURSELF - By Charles D. making and using all kinds, groundwork in chemistry. (288 pages, Help for foot sufferers. Scien- White. From which the average from personal tools to arbor tific treatment which makes pos- man who uses wood working presses, lathes, planers, etc., in 51/2 by 8¹/4 inches.) -$2.60 postpaid. sible discarding of arch sup- tools can put up a neat, correct different metals. $3.60 -F. D. M. ports and special shoes and camp cottage costing from $400 stopping of exercises. $1.60 to $700 complete. How to as- 29. THE GLASS GIANT OF semble simple building, plan PALOMAR-By David o. 9. H o W TO THINK and execute trim, lay out the Voodbury. Most readable story SOILLESS CULTURE SIMPLIFIED STRAIGHT By Robert roof. Chapters on materials, of human side of behind-the- H. Thouless. A book that will tools, roofing, fireplaces and scenes work on the great 200- By Alex Laurie definitely clarify your thinking chimneys, all the problems of a inch telescope. Swiftly moving and show you the argumenta- camp builder. $2.10 narrative begins with concep- HAT the rank amateur most wants tive tricks of others. $2.10 tion of telescope and proceeds steadily down through work in to know about this new growing 21. BETTER BUSINESS LET- 1939. $3.10 TERS-By L. E. Frailey. process, written in simple, straight- For finer, more human, and de- forward language, understandable, The above prices are post- cidedly more modern letters Write us for information on paid in the United States. than are ground out by mil- books on any subject which and directly to the point. All the de- Add, on foreign orders, 25c lions daily. Correspondence interests you. We can sup- tails are here, beginning with a his- for postage on each book. problems, promotion letters, ply any book in print. etc. $2.10 tory of solution-culture method, and continuing: soil and functions of ele- ments; nutrient deficiency symptoms; For Sale by: August '40 fertilization of crops in soil; how SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN, 24 West 40th Street, New York City plants grow; crops in sand; plants in water. Of particular interest are the I enclose $ for which please forward at once books Nos. final two chapters, one of which is directed toward the commercial grower and the other to the work of Name the amateur. (201 pages, 5³/4 by 8¹/4 Address inches.) -$2.60 postpaid.-F D. M. AUGUST 1940 SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN 105