190 NOTICES OF BOOKS. 



Physiology. Atoms and Molecules, Analogues and Hornologues, 

 Exosrnosis and Endosmosis, Geotropism and Hydrotropism follow 

 in quick succession. In the first few pages we get to Katabolism, 

 though the neophyte is mercifully spared Anabolism. Diabolism, 

 to which an acute medical student recently assigned much import- 

 ance in matters botanic, has, I believe, not yet crept into any text- 

 book. 



The investigations we have pursued seem to lead to the conclu- 

 sion that the book is not intended for those who are quite beginners ; 

 though the scientific accuracy of statement and the concise exposi- 

 tion of sound principles make it valuable for educational purposes. 

 The assertion in the preface that no attempt has been made to 

 " write up" (or "down") "to any syllabus," seems distinctly opposed 

 to the statement on the title-page that it is " especially adapted for 

 London Matriculation, South Kensington, and University Local 

 Examinations." Whether, however, the adaptation was designed 

 or is only accidental, it doubtless exists ; and indeed it would 

 be very hard to find a text-book which, studied after some easy 

 introductory work such as Oliver's, would better guide the student 

 to an accurate knowledge of those modern discoveries in the science 

 of Botany, an acquaintance with which is not only desirable for its 

 own sake, but extremely likely to "pay" at botanical examinations. 



The chapter on the " Physiology of Flowers" is the best in the 

 book. An admirable resume is given, drawn from Darwin, Hermann 

 Muller, Kerner, and Lubbock, of what is known of the fertilization 

 of flowers. Pollination is carefully distinguished from fertiliza- 

 tion, and one does not find the absurdly exaggerated estimate of the 

 benefits of cross-fertilization which is so common in popular works 

 on the subject. An appendix on Practical Work, and another con- 

 taining a number of Examination Questions which have been set at 

 the London University or South Kensington add much to the 

 value of the book. 



One has so frequently to complain of the absence or inadequacy 

 of an index, that it is strange to meet with a book which is 

 distinctly over-indexed. The number of subjects referred to is 

 enormous, and some of them seem to be but remotely connected 

 with Botany. Under the letter C, for example, besides a very long 

 list of botanical terms, we find references to Cats, Cattle, Crams, 

 and Cleanliness ! Indeed some parts of the index are so full that 

 they seem to have been drawn up on the model of Cruden's 

 ' Concordance.' A short sentence, for instance, which tells that 

 certain leaves have their edges directed north and south, may be 

 found both under " North" and " South," as well as under six 

 other entries. Single words given in an index often lead one 

 on quite a wrong track. ' Browning,' standing thus in naked 

 simplicity, tempts us to expect a refreshing rill of poetry amid an 

 arid desert of scientific terminology ; and it is somewhat disap- 

 pointing to find, when we turn up the passage, that the information 

 given is that a certain instrument-maker's shop is in the Strand, 

 and in the S.W. postal division, — a statement which may be new, 

 but is certainly not true. But it would be a very hypercritical 



