GURRENT LITERATURE 
BOOK REVIEWS 
Progress of botany 
In connection with the Vienna Congress, a series of papers describing recent 
rogress in the various fields of botanical activity is being published under the 
editorship of Dr. J. P. Lorsy. The general title of the series is Progressus ret 
botanicae, and the first part, comprising four papers, has just appeared.* 
ONTOGENY OF THE CELL.—Under this title SrRASBURGER? gives an interesting 
and valuable history of the progress of cell studies since 1875. The various 
problems which in their turn have been most prominent in cytological investiga- 
tion are treated with a breadth and grasp which would be impossible except for 
one who has contributed to the subject during its entire development. Partic 
ularly interesting is the treatment of problems like the centrosome, the origin of 
the spindle, double fertilization, etc., which have passed through the stage of 
dispute and polemic to comparative agreement. The treatment of the centro- 
some, which just now is perhaps the most investigated feature of the cell, is 
suggestive, the earlier problems, which are practically settled, being clearly 
marked off from the seemingly more difficult problems which are now occupying 
the attention of investigators. Text cuts are numerous and the ped - 
is quite complete —CHarLEs J. CHAMBERLAIN. 
PRESENT POSITION OF PALEOZOIC BOTANY.—ScotTs has contributed a most 
timely account of the present status of our knowledge of paleozoic plants. The 
recent progress in this field has been most remarkable, and Professor SCOTT’S 
connection with it has been conspicuous. Naturally the chief attention is given 
to the vascular plants, JeFFREY’s division of them into Lycopsida and Pteropsida 
being used for convenience of presentation. Under the first division, Spheno- 
phyllales, Equisetales, seostomars and bt omasoud are presented; and under 
the nd, Filicales, eridospermeae,” and ‘“Gymnospermeae.” Chief 
interest centers about the Filicales and pteridosperms. The question as to the 
existence of paleozoic ferns is answered decidedly in the affirmative; but with the 
statement that at present our knowledge of the group centers in the Botryopteri- 
deae, “which have now come to be of supreme interest in the geological history 
of vascular plants.” The development of our knowledge of pteridosperms is 
« Progressus rei botanicae. Herausgegeben von der Association Internationale 
des Botanistes. Redigiert von Dr. J. P. Lorsy. Erster Band. Erstes Heft. pp- 317- 
Jena: Gustav Fischer. 1907. M. 18. 
STRASBURGER, EDUARD, Die Ontogenie der Zelle seit 1875. Op. cit. 1:1-138. 
3 Scott, D. H., The present position of paleozoic botany. Op. cit. 1:139-217- 
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