54 



After a discussion of what is understood by mistletoe, the 

 author describes the prehistoric discoveries of mistletoe in 

 Europe. Closely associated with these finds is the documentary 

 evidence of the ancient knowledge of the plant among the 

 Greeks and Romans. The mistletoe in tradition and folklore 

 should appeal to a large circle of plant lovers. The employment 

 of the plant as bird lime is described, as also its use as fodder 

 bv wild and domesticated cattle, and as human food. Chapter 

 4 is devoted to the folk and botanical names of the mistletoe. 

 Chapter 5, pages 87-364, is occupied with a detailed considera- 

 tion of the geographical distribution throughout Europe. 



Part II is concerned with the i\lorpholog\-, Physiology-, Biolog>' 

 and Pathology of the mistletoe. Floral diagrams are given, 

 the structure of the fruits and seeds is described, to which is 

 appended an account of the teratology of the fruit and the germ- 

 ination of the seeds. The stem structure, branching, growth and 

 the structure of the parasitic root system are given in the greatest 

 detail. The chemistr\- of the plant is not neglected, as a section 

 of fifteen pages considers that phase of the study. The nutrition 

 of the plant comprises the interesting physiological part of the 

 book, including the influence of the parasite on its host. The 

 birds that are instrumental in the natural distribution of the 

 plant are described and figured. Other birds and animals are 

 described as agents of distribution, 



The third part of the book deals with the role of the mistletoe 

 in practical garden, orchard and forest operations and a list of 

 the host plants is given. This practical part covers 109 pages 

 of the book. Chapter 13 gives in detail Dr. von Tubeuf's 

 experiments on the cultivation of mistletoe upon ^•arious host 

 plants, and chapter 14 treats of the destruction and control of 

 the plant parasite in garden, orchard and forest. It will be 

 seen from the above brief description, that vers- little has been 

 left undone in the study of this plant, which has interested man- 

 kind from the Druids down to the present day. 



John W. Harshberger, 

 University of Pennsylvania. 



