ares 
bracht: 8vo. pp. viii+-470, Jigs. 45. pl. 14; and portrait, 
M25, 
troeger, 1899. 
1899 ] CURRENT LITERATURE 485 
imagine that the line of division is crossed when one encounters the over- 
whelming verbiage of ancient morphology and taxonomy, so dear to 
English texts. 
From the standpoint of logical presentation the book is a curiosity, The 
first part is general, discussing ‘external morphology, physiology, and 
general histology’ in a way that compels the author to say, “it is’ not 
expected that the student will be able to master the contents of the opening 
chapters at the first reading.’ The second part deals with “the angiosperm” 
in rather a detailed way, and, of course, it is in connection with this topic 
that the glossary style of presentation appears. The third part deals with 
“vascular cryptogams and flowering plants.” Thus, after the angiosperms 
are presented the ferns are taken up, then the equisetums, club mosses, and 
gymnosperms. Only at this point can the real homologies of angiosperm 
Structure be indicated. The fourth and last part deals with “the lower 
cryptogams,”’ and one advances from liverworts to mosses, and then backs 
down to alge and fungi. This curious zigzag course does not have the 
excuse that the more recondite homologies are not being considered, for they 
are. The actual material in the book could be arranged into an orderly 
Presentation of the evolution of the plant kingdom. 
The book is an excellent compendium of facts for reference or topical 
reading, and probably indicates that the examinations provided for demand 
facts rather than principles. The illustrations are not of the first order, — 
either in the original drawing, or in the reproduction. There is no longer 
any need for crude and harsh figures, even in elementary texts.—]J. M. C. 
The Schwendener Festschrift. 
IN honor of the seventieth birthday of Professor Dr. Simon Schwendener, 
of the University of Berlin, twenty-four of his pupils have prepared a 
Festschrift by publishing together a series of papers under the title Botanische 
Untersuchungen. A fine photogravure of Schwendener forms a frontis- 
piece of the volume. ; 
Had Schwendener done nothing but inspire so energetic a group of 
investigators as are represented in these pages he would have done a great 
Work for the advancement of knowledge. But the recent publication of his 
wn collected papers has shown the great source of the inspiration which 
these pupils received, namely his own vigorous research. Surely three such 
volumes as these will at once fittingly commemorate and exemplify the life 
work of a great teacher. 
It is impossible to discuss in detail the contributions which make up this 
3 Botanische Untersuchungen, S. Schwendener zum 10. Februar, 1899, darge- 
Berlin: Gebriider Born- 
