BOTANY. 611 



On the poisonous effect of the salts of copper on the higher 

 plants, H. Ooupin (Compt. Rend. Acad. Sci. Paris, 127 (1898), No. 10, 

 pp. 400, 401). — Attention is called to the investigations of Eoulin show- 

 ing that the presence of 0.00416 per cent of sulphate of copper in water 

 cultures is sufficient to destroy Sterigmatocystis nigra, and to the 

 investigations of Millardet showing that the zoospores of mildew are 

 destroyed by a solution containing 0.0000002 or 0.0000003 per cent of 

 the same. 



In the author's investigations recently germinated wheat plants were 

 grown in water cultures containing different amounts of a number of 

 copper salts. After a few days the plants were examined and readily 

 showed the effect of the copper upon them. The minimum percentage 

 of the different salts which is capable of destroying the plants is as 

 follows: Copper bibromid, 0.001875; copper bichlorate, 0.005; copper 

 sulphate, 0.005555; copper acetate, 0.005714, and copper nitrate, 0.006102. 

 From these figures it is shown that there is practically little difference 

 in the toxicity of the different copper compounds, and this the author 

 believes is due to the copper ions. 



On account of the recent recommendation that 5 to 10 per cent solu- 

 tions of copper sulphates be used for the destruction of weeds, the 

 author states that in view of the facts shown in his experiments great 

 care should be exercised in following such directions, since the amount 

 of copper might have an injurious effect upon wheat or other plants. 



Elementary botany, G. P. Atkinson (New York: Henry Holt. <r Co., 1898, jq>. 

 XXIII -f- 144, figs. 509). — This work, which is designed for use in secondary schools, 

 follows the same lines as given in Barnes' Plant Life (E. S. K., 10, p. 416) in that the 

 subject is treated from the standpoint of function, processes, and relationships of 

 the plant, the main divisions given being morphology, physiology, and ecology. The 

 hook has many excellent features, not the least among them. being the illustrations, 

 most of which are new, and many produced by photographic process with excellent 

 effect. 



Particular attention is rightly given the study of the lower plants, but from the 

 amount of space given the consideration of some groups they appear unduly exalted. 

 Nearly as many pages are given to the consideration of the morphology of the ferns 

 and their allies as to the consideration of the gymnosperms and the angiosperms. 

 It seems very doubtful whether so much stress should be laid upon the recent cyto- 

 logical studies iu secondary schools, most of which have neither apparatus nor 

 instructors for this order of work. 



Extreme measures have been taken with the scientific names of plants, although 

 the author has not been entirely consistent in following them. It is doubtful whether 

 anything is gained by extreme decapitalization and the use of Roman type for the 

 technical names of plants; but if an author adopts such a plan it should be carried 

 throughout and occasional lapses into italics avoided. 



Botany at the anniversary meeting of the American Association for the 

 Advancement of Science, E. F. Smith (Science, n. ser.,S (1S9S), Xo. 203,pp. 651-660; 

 SOS, 000-700). — Abstracts are given by the secretary of the papers presented before 

 section F of the association at its anniversary meeting in Boston, August, 1898. 



A manual of agricultural botany, A. B. Frank, trans. l>y J. W. Patterson (Lon- 

 don: Wm. Blackwood $ Sons, 1898, j>p. X+199, fujs. 133 ; noticed in Amer. Xat. ,32 (1898), 

 Xo. 883, p. 



