CURRENT LITERATURE. 



BOOK REVIEWS. 

 A university text.' 



That there is need of a good general text-book of botany of university 

 rank, written from the modern standpoint and largely from American mate- 

 rial, has long been recognized. Professor Campbell is the first in this field, 

 and his purpose is ** to present in as compact a form as possible an outline of 

 the essentials of modern botany." His book treats of anatomy, morphology, 

 general taxonomy, physiology, and ecology, although the chapters are not 

 grouped under such general divisions. 



It is a serious question whether the science of botany has not advanced 

 too far for any one man to undertake a general text of university rank. In 

 the nature of things, the writer's own field will be developed much more 

 extensively than the others, which perhaps are equally important as repre- 

 senting the present status of botany. The result will be a university text in 

 one phase of the subject, and a very incomplete and elementary text in the 

 other phases. 



It is upon this basis that the book before us must be judged. The mat- 

 ter dealing with general anatomy, morphology, and the outlines of classifica- 

 tion, occupies 460 pages. In this field Professor Campbell's standing is 

 assured, and his grasp of the subject and his conclusions are derived from 

 an immense amount of personal investigation. This strong personal element 

 is attractive and useful, even though there may be much diversity of opinion 

 as to many of the statements and conclusions. It is a matter of regret, how- 

 ever, that in a university text so little attention is given to the discussion of 

 such important topics as the origin and evolution of sex, the appearance of 

 the sporophyte, etc. The materials are presented in somewhat encyclopedic 

 fashion, and as the author only intended the book as one of reference, per- 

 haps he has left it to the university teacher to develop his own theories and 

 lines of continuity. 



The presentation of physiology occupies only 33 pages, which cannot 



e claimed to be an adequate expression of the important place of physi- 



^ ogy in modern botany, especially from the university standpoint. The 



great brevity precludes completeness and often clearness, and sometimes 



'Campbell, Douglas Houghton, A university text-book of botany. 8vo. 



^^^ + 579, with 493 figures and 15 plates. New York : The Macmillan Company. 

 ^902. $4.00. 



1902] 



67 



