March, 1935. 
The Queensland Naturalist 
67 
“the fundamental structure of chromosomes is evidently 
similar in all organisms in which, they occur”; and again, 
after discussing the relationship between the iron bac- 
terium Leptothrix and nuclear chromosomes, that the 
very striking similarity in the structure and component 
material of the iron bacterium Leptothrix and chromo- 
somes is scarcely likely to be accidental. Already it fore- 
shadows the conclusion that structure is closely linked 
with the material composition and that both these condi- 
tions are together linked with function.” Chapter 10 
deals with carbon dioxide assimilation green plants, and 
here the author correlates some of his experiments with 
those of Saposchnikow, published in 1894, in which that 
botanist came to the conclusion that protein is the primary 
product of assimilation in green leaves, and that carbo- 
hydrates are only the cleavage product of this protein. 
Mr. Francis is to be complimented on his original 
outlook and his fearlessness in publishing the results of his 
investigations. It is work which no serious student of the 
fundamentals of biology can afford to ignore. 
C.T.W. 
BOOK REVIEWS 
AN INTERMEDIATE BOTANY. 
By A. B. Cayley. 
The latest addition to the Shakespeare Head series of 
Australian Nature Books is “An Intermediate Botany,” 
by A. B. Cayley, B.Sc.Agr., Sydney, M.Sc.. Wisconsin. 
The book is well written and the author’s style is simple 
and lucid. For agriculturalists and nature students this 
little work should be of great value for it sets forth most 
of the fundamentals of botany in a very simple and easily 
understood fashion. However, a number of inaccuracies 
were noted and it is hoped that these will be corrected 
in any future editions. The chapter on stems might have 
been improved by a description of the structure of a 
typical monocotyledonous stem. A very useful feature is 
the incorporation of chapters on weeds, pasture improve- 
ment and plant environment. These represent a welcome 
variation from the usual elementary botany book. An- 
other feature of note is the manner in which practical ap- 
plication of the various principles under discussion are 
given . 
Taking it as a whole, the volume is an excellent ele- 
mentarv text-book for the use of Australian students Tt 
is published hv the Shakespeare Head Press Ltd.. Sydney, 
and the retail price is 3/9. S.S.L.E. 
