1888. ] BOTANICAL GAZETTE. 275 
cism of the editors of the GAZETTE, it will only be fair to myself that I 
take the benefit of the doubt, and lay them in full before my fellow 
students, and I hope befcre long to find some opportunity of doing so. 
ermantown, Lt. H EEHAN 
The GAZETTE's criticism was not directed wholly te Mr. Mezhan’s 
of “entertainment” or “temporary interest” they affo 
cism was aimed wholly at their character as scientifie productions, as 
which, it is to be assumed, they are presented.—Eps. ] 
CURRENT LITERATURE. 
Origin of our Trees. 
Paleobotany, founded by Adolphe Brongniart, is a subject of great 
and increasing interest. The difficulties with which it has to contend are 
enormous, and its growth necessarily slow, but a few years has brought 
mended for their 
Saporta, whose last work! is before us, on the origin 0 
used by man. The text is interspersed with 44 excellent figures, and the 
whole treatment of the subject is remarkably clear. Of course it would 
he impossible in this brief sketch to give any detailed account of a book 
which is entirely made up of details, but a brief synopsis of contents will 
th a discussion of the various groups 
e monocotyledons are con= 
third and largest 
t orders being 
taken up in succession. The fig 
nsually labelled as the ancestral forms of familiar 
the book is a synoptical table, 
According to geological chronology, 
y this means a glance will catch facts 
ence of Cycads, the primitive Salisburias, ete., whi 
Ginkgo, is not established until the Permian. ] 
the ancestors of the Cupressinew; while in the | 
Cretaceous the first dicotyledons are discovered, ‘an 
Opulus, an appearance which is speedily followed in t 
mee (Cenomanian) by a great abundance of dicotyledonous vy 
So ee eee 
1 pe 4 arbres 
Shae Ut Maeve Go Ce a ee eee 
* 
cultivés ou utilisés par 
r. 50C. 
