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which students may now, by this method, overcome obstacles 
which heretofore have stood in the Way. 
From the intermediate position which ferns occupy in the 
plant kingdom their life history. presents a generalized view of the 
chief phenomena of plant life, and they are therefore admirably 
Suited for studies of the biological aspect of botany, and form a 
Suitable introduction to this phase of botanical instruction. The 
book is suited to assist students in laboratory classes in success- 
fully tracing out the more difficult phases in the development of 
fern organs. The descriptive part affords a convenient means of 
reference at any step of the work, while the practical part deals 
with methods, preparation of material and instructions for prose- 
Cuting the various phases of the investigation, and is to be used 
asa laboratory guide. By its use, as first tested by the author in 
his own classes, the students are enabled to make wit) precision 
and accuracy permanent microscopic preparations of all the stages 
of development. Especial success has been had in adapting the 
Collodion method to the handling of the delicate prothalline tissue, 
Sexual organs and embryo, it being better suited to such delicate 
tissue than the paraffine method, and the preparation of material 
can be carried through in less time and with far less trouble. 
Permanent microscopic sections thus made serve the purpose of 
Study for future reference, and, if desired, for class illustration. 
The descriptive part occupies such a prominent part of the 
book that it will commend itself also to those who do not contem- 
Plate the Practical study, but desire in compact form a much fuller e . - 
“ccount of fern history than can be obtained in ordinary text- 
books, 
Manual of the Botany of the Region of San Francisco Bay, being a 
Systematic Arrangement of the higher Plants growing spon-— 
taneously in the Counties of Marin, Sonoma, Napa, Solano, s 
Contra Costa, Alameda, Santa Clara, San Mateo and San Fran- ke 
cisco, in the State of California. Edward Lee Greene. | (8vo., - 
PP. 328, Cubery & Co., San Francisco, 2 Feb., 1894). o 
Descriptive local floras are altogether too few, and are si saa 
quently very welcome, and if produced as the one which lies before — 
_ “Ss after an exhaustive study during many years of the plants 
__ themselves in the field and laboratory, cannot fail to have a last 
