mea 
» 1888. ] BOTANICAL GAZETTE. 21 
interest to European bryologists, but is of much value to Americans, as 
it contains critical notes upon a number of our species. In fact, the 
whole work is worthy the patronage of American bryologists. The 
plates are good and the work is remarkably cheap. 
Das Botanische Practicum.’ 
No book ever came nearer to filling a long-felt want than this 
hand-book, which was issued only three years ago, and of which two En- 
glish translations have lately been published. The fact that a revision 
has been so soon called for has been chiefly due to the demand for the 
book and the rapid advance in microscopical technique. This edition, 
therefore, has been completely re-elaborated; so completely that a de- 
tailed comparison with the first can not be made. A few of the chief 
changes may be noted. The number of “tasks” has been reduced from 
. thirty-four to thirty-two, and the number of specimens studied has also 
been reduced somewhat, in order to give room for the more complete 
exposition of microscopical technique. Room for this purpose has also 
been obtained by increasing the size and number of the pages, and it has 
been the author’s aim to develop the microtechnical portions rather than 
the anatomical. In this respect, therefore, the book is much stronger 
than before. But microtechnique, without reference to its application 
in scientific research, gets no countenance from the author. Important 
changes are also made in the chapters on the fibro-vascular system and 
on the bacteria, to which alone over forty pages are given. The bringing 
of the references from the end of the chapters to foot-notes is a great con- 
venience. Not only is the information which one most wants in the book, 
but it is rendered thoroughly accessible by the elaborate indexes. These, 
already good in the first edition, have been considerably enlarged, and 
two new ones added. There are now, besides a very full table of con- 
tents and a list of illustrations, six indexes, covering 87 pages. The 
first gives a list of the plants used, indicating the parts needed and the 
desired condition, whether fresh or alcoholic; second, a list of the plants 
used arranged according to the times at which they may be obtained, a 
Most useful scheme for the collector; third, a list of instruments and 
utensils; fourth, a descriptive list of reagents, stains, imbedding media, 
€tc., with recipes and directions for preparing them; fifth, a list of nec- 
essary reagents and stains; sixth, a general index to the whole work. It 
18, unquestionably, the best indexed book we have ever seen. We com- 
mend Dr. Strasburger’s example to his countrymen as one worthy of 
Imitation. A number of new cuts also appear in the text of the same 
excellence as those of the original edition. We feel that the book can 
* Das botanische Practicum; Anleitung s um der mikroskopi tanik. 
fiir Anfiinger und Geiibtere. Zugleich ein Handbuch der mikroskopischen Technik. 
Mit 193 Holzschnitten. Von Dr. Eduard Strasburger. Ztveite umgearbeitete Auflage, 
18°, pp. xxxvi, 685. Jena: Gustav Fischer, 1887. Price, 16 marks. 
