52 THK PI.ANT WORI.D 



Book Reviews. 



PIvAnt-Geography upon a Physiological Basis. By Dr. A. F. IV. 

 Schhnper. Authorized English translation by William R. Fisher, 

 revised and edited by Percy Groom and Isaac Bay ley Balfour. With 

 photogravure portrait, five collotypes, four maps, and 497 other illus- 

 trations. Royal 8 vo, half morocco, pp. xxiv+840. Price, 42.y net 

 ($14). Also in four parts; price, 9s ($3) net per part. Oxford: 

 The Clarendon Press. 



Since the fascinating study of plant ecology began to gain headway 

 in this country, a universal desire has been felt for a comprehensive 

 treatise on the subject. Schimper's " Pflanzengeographie," published 

 six years ago, fulfilled this requirement except in one respect — it was 

 not a convenient ready reference book for American scholars, who found 

 themselves obliged to build up a nomenclature of their own, sometimes 

 by adaptation of German phrases, more often by purely inventive pro- 

 cesses. Thus the same idea is frequently expressed by different words 

 in American ecological papers. The association of certain types of 

 plants under similar edaphic or climatic conditions has been designated 

 variously as an "association," a "society," a "community," or a 

 " formation." The latter is the word preferred by Schimper. 



The translation which Professor Fisher, with the assistance of Pro- 

 fessors Groom and Balfour, has given to the world, is truly a monu- 

 mental piece of work, and one which has laid the whole botanical frater- 

 nity under obligations. It not only places Schimper's storehouse of 

 information within the reach of every one, but it will do much to stimulate 

 original study of ecological problems. Professor Schimper had intended 

 to supervise this translation, making it in some sense a revision as well, 

 but his untimely death prevented the consummation of this hope, and the 

 work therefore remains unchanged from the original in scope and treat- 

 ment. The attractive form in which the book has been issued by the 

 Oxford University press is also noteworthy, and the paper has been well 

 selected to give effect to the many beautiful half-tones and wash-draw- 

 ings with which it is illustrated. 



The contents of ' ' Plant-Geography ' ' were discussed in the reviews 

 of the original German edition. For the benefit of those unfamiliar with 

 the work it may be said here that Part I is devoted to a discussion of the 

 various factors, such as heat, light, water, etc., affecting plant distribu- 

 tion ; Part II describes the various plant formations and " guilds," and 

 Part III contains a detailed description of the various zones and climatic 

 regions of the earth, with the characteristic vegetation of each, 



c. L. P. 



