PR ee Ce pee ER ee nN ee a eae ae v OR ST ee ee eS a a ee ee re en 
CURRENT LITERATURE. 
BOOK REVIEWS. 
Vines’ ‘‘Elementary text-book.’’! 
Tus book was prepared to meet a demand for a less bulky and expensive 
volume than the author's Students’ text-book of botany. So far as bulk is con- 
cerned, the present volume contains about 200 pages less than the former, 
and simplification has taken the form of omitting certain “ difficult and debat- 
able topics, such as the details of nuclear division, and the alternation of gen™ 
erations in the thallophytes.” : 
As before, the book is divided into four parts, Morphology, Anatomy and 
Histology, Physiology, and Classification. The author lays no special stress- 
upon the sequence of parts, stating that the different parts should be studied 
together, but he has concluded to let Physiology precede Classification, instead. 
of following it, as in the Students’ text-book. 
The first three parts contain clear and compact statements of the general 
ar:  worp hology, anatomy, and physiology, as the author defines these 
sempects. As morphology is usually studied, however, its most essential facts 
ae by the author under « classification.” In fact, the morphology, as 
= Presented, is impossible of comprehension without some knowledge of 
» and of the evolution of organs as presented by different plant 
The reviewer questions the advantage of presenting morphology 
ntary students apart from plant groups. 
OT so devoted to physiology contains but seventy-six pages; and, of 
or ja: “a excellent presentation of what may be called physiology proper, 
eahieet a of Physiology which deals with life processes ; but it is to be 
at no mention is made of that phase of physiology which deals. 
ject has hoateg the phase which we have come to call ecology. This sub- 
text-book, a Sardeak development to demand treatment in any elementary 
dreary Lies * iad pages given to it could well have been spared from the 
elementary Sa families (occupying nearly 100 pages), which no 
tee Gane ‘ees uS€s Or Can use to advantage. = 
‘perms as an in Part, the first notable change is the recognition of Shee 
old group “ph pendent group, which is certainly justifiable. Hence, the 
te ees” oF * spermatophytes” disappears, being replaced 
‘VINE : 
The dice Ht An elementary text-book of botany. 8vo. pp. xv-+ 61I- 
1899) an Company: New York. 1898. $2.25. “ 
141 
to eleme 
