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BOTAMCAL GAZETTE 



thoroughly suited to the audience addressed. While the subject is treated 



the book bears much of interest to plant physiologists. The limited power of , 

 mammals to manufacture amino acids, especially lysine and tryptophan, the 

 inadequacy of certain plant proteins (zein and gliadin) as a nitrogen source for 

 mammals because of the absence of one or both of these amino acids, and the 

 idea that amino acids play a specific role in metabolism and perhaps growth, 

 aside from their use as source of energy and building material, are all suggestive 



by him!— Wm. Crocker.' 



A new manual.— Piper and Beattie 8 have published a manual of the 

 flora of the region described as "lying between the summit of the Cascade 

 Mountains and the Pacific Ocean from the 49th parallel of latitude across the 

 southern portion of Vancouver Island, south to the headwaters of the Willa- 

 mette River." There are four life zones represented: humid transition zone, 

 including the great forests of Douglas spruce; Canadian zone, not sharply 

 limited; Hudsonian zone, indicated by subalpine fir, Alaska cedar, black hem- 

 lock, and white-bark pine; and arctic zone, consisting of the alpine flora above 

 timber line. It is a most interesting floral region, not hitherto represented 



to be found in the herbarium of the State College of Washington. 



The usefulness of a manual can be judged only by its use; but so far as 

 organization and appearance go, this manual promises to be all that can be 

 desired. The size of the volume indicates a rich and varied flora, and the 

 summary states that 16 17 species and subspecies are presented, representing 

 550 genera and 100 families. New species are described in Arctostaphylos, 

 Godetia, Panicularia, Populus, and Solidago (2), and 14 new combinations are 

 proposed. A useful glossary and a full index complete the volume.— J. M. C. 



Botanical technique.— The second volume of the Praktikum of M6bius» 

 deals with thallophytes, bryophytes, pteridophytes, and gymnosperms. The 

 descriptions and directions are in general good, but the quality of the illustra- 



the carelessness of the technician is very apparent, as shown by the figure of 

 a cross-section of the stem of Lycopodium complanatum. A figure of a young 

 antheridium of Pdlia epiphylla shows that the illustrator did not know he was 

 drawing from an oblique section. In any text, especially one intended for 

 beginners, accuracy and clearness of statement should be paramount. In 

 addition to an intimate knowledge of the subject, an author should also be 

 8 Piper, Charles V., and Beattie, R. Kent, Flora of the northwest coast. 



