1908] CURRENT LITERATURE 307 
physiological. In a review, however, the description of structures and of their 
functions may be mentioned separately. 
In the days of the Sacn’s régime, introduced into this country by BEssEy, 
the detailed study of tissues was a prominent feature of botanical instruction. It 
was gradually eliminated because of the growing demand for details that were 
thought to be significant in the evolutionary history of plants. A fact without a 
Suggestive and large meaning came to be regarded as not worth while in elemen- 
lary teaching. Doubtless this elimination of the study of tissues as such went 
‘oo far, and a generation of botanists has been developed with too little knowl- 
edge of this kind. Then came the wonderful modern revival of anatomy so far 
as the vascular system is concerned, but this revival had to do with the evolu- 
tion of vascular plants. SrEvENs has carried us back again into the old atmos- 
phere of tissues, but he has sought to avoid the old deadness of the subject by 
relating tissues to their functions. ‘The spirit that animates the “skeleton,” 
therefore, is physiological and ecological, and not the conception of evolution. 
The tissues are well described and illustrated, for STEVENS is an excellent teacher; 
and the text and drawings have been prepared in large measure directly from 
Material under observation. It is to be regretted, however, that no trace of the 
modern vascular anatomy appears. For example, the remarkable development 
of knowledge in reference to the relation between the vascular anatomy of mono-. 
cotyledons and dicotyledons would seem to have deserved mention. It may be 
claimed that relationship is not being considered, but this particular relationship 
has to do with previous misconceptions as to the actual structure of the vascular 
anatomy of monocotyledons. 
Remembering that this is a book on physiological anatomy and not a text- 
book of plant physiology, we may properly commend the presentation of such 
Pics as come within its scope. ‘That is far less comprehensive than the well- 
known Work of HaBeRLANDT, and the matter is far more elementary. The 
topics presented are chiefly those of entry and exit of materials, their movement in 
the plant body, and the processes of nutrition in the broadest sense. These are 
Presented simply, clearly, and in the main accurately. Clever diagrams have 
been freely used, and they fulfil well the author’s design of rendering more real 
~ Processes described. If they have any fault it is perhaps in tending to make 
~onceptions too formal. Growth movement and the extensive phenomena of 
"™mitability do not come within the author’s plan. 
eg € unfortunate conception, embodied in chapter headings, and wrought 
. the text, is that of “circulation” of water and foods in Spsinrsaaeed 
— This idea dies hard, and we are sorry it has a new lease of life in this 
The final chapters deal with the preparation of sections, use of the microscope, 
easy and processes, the michrochemistry of plant products (not always reli- 
‘it oe "3 detection of adulterations (too short to be really useful).—J. M. C. 
