216 _ BOTANICAL GAZETTE [MARCH 
influence of light, heat, atmospheric density, and the chemical nature of the 
soil, in shaping the character of the vegetation. 
It seems unfortunate to the reviewer that more attention was not paid to 
what may be called, speaking broadly, the geological relation. The shot 
section on the transformation of edaphic to climatic formations is excellent 
and might well be much enlarged. In order to understand any formation it 
is necessary to know its history, and this history can be interpreted only by 
the most painstaking study of areas in which transitions from edaphic to 
climatic formations are now taking place. With this study there must be 
coupled a study of the physiographic history of the region, The study of 
the cumulative influence of past environments, the lagging of effects behind m 
their causes, is still in its infancy. Perhaps it is because of our lack of = 
knowledge along these lines that Schimper’s great work deals so much more a 
with static than with developmental ecology. 
This new treatise is a distinct addition to our knowledge, both as a com 
pendium of previously stated but scattered facts, and as a source of mally 
new details and better points of view. Of course all ecologists must have 
and must be familiar with its contents from cover to cover. This ne — 
volume is certain to stand always as one of the great botanical masterpieces: 
— Henry C. Cow.es. a 
Economic botany. - 
OnE of the best works yet written upon cultivated plants has just beet 
published by Dr. R. Sadebeck.3 While the title might suggest that the sub- 
ject matter would attract only those especially interested in the plants of the 
German colonies, this is not at all true, since these plants are discussed 
comprehensively that their relations to dissimilar as well as similar economi¢ 
plants of other regions are constantly suggested. After having given 4 ar 
ful description of the taxonomic features of a plant, the author discusses " 
culture, its native region and its distribution, the varieties produced under 
cultivation, its useful products and the way in which these are utilized # 
oods, medicines, or in industrial arts. Photographs and drawings, 
all of which were especially made to illustrate this work, appear '" att 
dance. These illustrations, while having to do almost entirely with wih 
nomic features, are so excellent that they constitute one of the most pl 
and satisfactory parts of the book. 
Me SSS Hiya Be = 
a Ee Rg Soy eet SS ee ee ee 
irteeD 
n the first chapter the author discusses the palms. At anne : food 
genera are grown in the African colonies, producing large quantities also 
Several of 
material for local consumption and for commerce. wee 
supply important textile materials and all are prominent features a 
landscape. Another chapter is devoted to the description, cultivatio® 
onien und ihre Enest 
: SSADEBECK, R.: Die Kulturgewachse der deutschen Kol 
nisse. 8vo. pp. xiii+ 366. fgs. 727. Jena: Gustav Fischer. 1898, 
If, 
