208 



of Fordham University takes over the editorship. We wish for him 

 the same loyal support the previous editor has enjoyed. 



BOOK REVIEWS 



Plant Physiology * 



Ralph C. Benedict 



The Meyer and Anderson text, Plant Physiology, is an inter- 

 esting and valuable addition to the list of recent new texts and new 

 editions in its field. Designed as a text for college use, its authors 

 postulate as necessary prerequisites a year each of general botany 

 and general chemistry. As with other recent plant physiologies, 

 its development proceeds almost entirely from the physical sciences. 

 For example, its first five chapters deal successively with such 

 topics as "solutions," "interfacial phenomena," "colloidal systems," 

 "sols and gels." After a sixth chapter on "The plant cell," four 

 more chapters follow on "diffusion," "osmosis," "imbibition," and 

 "permeability." The remaining 27 chapters have botanical titles, 

 but all include considerable appropriate discussion of relevant 

 physico-chemical principles and facts. 



That a text developed along these lines to a higher degree than 

 others will be welcome and valuable there seems no basis for doubt. 

 Whether it will find favor for class use will perhaps depend upon 

 the training and predilections of specific course heads and the 

 preparation of available students. In any event, its value for 

 reference use seems indubitable. 



In keeping with the emphasis on the physico-chemical aspects 

 of plant physiology, the authors have introduced less than the 

 usual amount of structural data and illustration. The reviewer's 

 personal preference would be for a somewhat greater emphasis 

 on the anatomical bases of plant functions. Along the same line 

 is a preference for less formalized representations than that of a 

 segment of young corn stem (fig. 53). Of three bundles shown, 

 none shows clearly the predominant pattern of three vessels char- 



* Meyer, B. S., and Anderson, D. B. Plant physiology. Pp. 696. Van Nos- 

 trand Co. 1939. 



