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Histories of Maize: Multidisciplinary Approaches to the Prehistory, Linguistics, Biogeography, Domestication and Evolution of Maize. Edited by J. E. Staller, R. H. Tykot and B. F. Benz. Burlington, MA, USA: Academic Press (2006), pp. 704, £94.99. ISBN: 0-12-369364-0

Structurally too the book is rather odd and at several different levels. Does it really need a separate chapter on seed and seedling management? Most would see seedling management as a modest section of crop agronomy and seeds better included in developmental physiology. Occasionally there is a confusing mix of UK and US practices. The UK soil indexing system for crop nutrition is described as if it was universal whilst other parts rely heavily on US experience – this is fair enough, but what might be local practices should at least be indicated as such. There are also quite frequent confused headings and subheadings, e.g. in Chapter 2 the general introduction to self-incompatibility gets a sub-heading but ‘assaying self-incompatibility’ gets a main heading. Nevertheless, despite some reservations, the author ought to be congratulated on bringing together a vast body of information and producing a worthy addition to the series.