432 The Botanical Gazette. [November, — 
derwood’s “Our Native Ferns” is referred to as published at Bloom- 
ington, Ill., in 1882. This was the second edition, published by the 
author. But the author has not resided at Bloomington for ten years 
and the fourth edition of the book has lately been issued by Henry 
Holt & Co. 
A course of practical elementary biology. 
Regarding this book we speak only of the botanical portion. It 
would have stated better the facts in the case if the author had called 
this a course of ¢mpracticable biology. We doubt whether any class of 
students ever pretended to work through the book. If they have, it 
surely must have taken some years, with daily work, to accomplish the 
feat. It strikes us ratherasa thorough account of the morphology and 
physiology of the organisms chosen, interspersed with directions to 
study certain things or perform some experiments. For example, 
students are directed (p. 107) to “examine the nuclei of various cells, 
from the apical cell downward” in picric-acid-hematoxylin specl- 
mens of Chara in order to study the division of the nucleus! They 
are also directed (p. 136) to grow fern prothallia and study the history — 
of their development, and likewise the development of the sex 
organs. They are also asked to investigate the development of the 
pollen in Lamium album, the origin of the ovule and the structure of 
the egg apparatus. weak a 
The foregoing are only selected as examples of the impossible in aa 
elementary course. We have little fault to find with the accuracy OF 
mode of presentation of the matter of the book. It contains pene 
useful hints for advanced students regarding the plants treated, W 
are yeast, protococcus, bacteria, mucor, penicillium, chara, the of it 
fern, and dead nettle. Teachers also may be able to make use abe 
in suggesting work for classes. But it is in no sense suitable “i 
ginners, at least in this country, If English students can as ba 
similate such strong meat they must be sons of Anak indeed! 
Chapters in modern botany.* | have 
This is one of the most charming and _ instructive books we seit 
seen. If University Extension had done nothing aad Be oe the 3 
could be credited with much good to botanists in bringing @ ued bY 
production of this book, which is one of a series of manuals ef nor 4 
the Scribners. Its title tells just what it is; not a as 
: Crown 8v0» — 
1BrpGoop, Joun.—A course of practical elementary awe te 1883. 1. 
PP. VIII + 353. figs. 226. New York, Longmans, Green & Co. sli 4 201. > 
*Geppes, Patrick: Chapters in modern botany. 12mo. ppP- 
New York, Charles Scribner's Sons. 1893. 
