The opening words to Chapter I set the tone and scope of this book: "All gardeners are pie-in-the-sky visionaries-sanguine optimists who see in every winter storm the moisture to prime a flower-filled spring."

No less an optimist is Mr. Malitz himself, for the speculations in this book frequently provide wonderful stretches for one's imagination. A fair share of them would have seemed like dunderheaded foolishness only a few years ago. But now, the techniques the author relies on to fulfill-eventually-many of his and humanity's hopes for developing the plants of our future are already well established science.

Further on, the author writes, "In the chapters that follow, I will describe various strategies that promise to yield radically new plants." (Pg. 18.) Chapters 2 and 3 provide the reader with some science basic to the remainder of the book.

Lest my readers' eyes glaze over at the mention of the word "science", let me add that this is pretty basic modern plant science explained admirably and simply in only 18 pages.

Then, on page 41, we're already into the chunky part of this magical stew with Chapter 4, called "Engineering New Plants" which discusses techniques available to plant scientists such as tissue culture, cloning devices, cell fusion, chimeras, mutations, in vitro fertilization, embryo rescue, haploidy and gene transfer all explored briefly and in wonderfully simple language.

I couldn't have said it better myself, might be your reaction to Chapter 5. This chapter sums up many of the desirable traits we all wish for in all our plants but only find in varying degrees, usually insufficient, in each.

This completes the book's Part I and by page 65 we're into Section 11, A Wishlist" Oh boy!, does Mr. Malitz have a wishlist! From generalities such as increasing cold tolerance in tropical species to increasing heat tolerance of those from nearer the poles, to salt and pH tolerance to increasing drought tolerance to specifics such as daylilies which deadhead themselves (lose their spent flowers without having to be hand picked) to improving the beauty of currant (Ribes) bushes to improving orchids, poppies, ferns, roses, trees and bushes and, well, you get the picture.

I can think of no finer gift for a young person with an interest in plants or even the makings of a plant scientist. As for those of us who are older and just want to keep up, there's no finer gift you can give yourself than these speculations on the future of plants, some of which, no doubt eventually will come true.

Charles Hardman