8 4 
The Botanical Institute at Munich. 
variety of interest, and does not approve of a Professor forming a 
“ school” of followers out of his students. Once or twice a day he comes 
round to each, frequently with the time-honoured question, “ Haben 
sie etwas gefunden ? ” He goes from one subject to another in a 
few minutes, and enters into the point of view of each in a won¬ 
derful way, from the spermatozoids of Ginkgo (which come to the 
Laboratory with Professor Fujii, who is here at present) to Orchi- 
daceae, from Vorlauferspitze to Fern-antheridia, from Cycads to 
Liverworts, he gives valuable suggestions and references to papers 
old and new on every subject. 
Professor Giesenhagen and the assistants also come round ready 
with help for all that ask it. In fact the student gets the most excel¬ 
lent treatment—he is left alone if he prefers it, hut can with a word 
have all the resources of the laboratory at his command. 
Once a week the professors, assistants, and senior students of 
the various departments of “ applied ” botany unite- with the 
“ pure” botanists to discuss recent literature, and every other 
week or so one of the assistants or students gives a “ Vortrag” on 
some special subject, generally in connection with his own work. 
These evenings are exceedingly valuable, for they form an easy and 
pleasant way of keeping in touch with recent literature, and the 
students learn much by preparing their “Vortrag.” 
Amid all this excellence I see only one serious flaw, and as that 
is not peculiar to this particular Institute, hut is due to the entire 
system of University teaching in Germany, it is hardly fair to speak 
of it. Still I do not think that the students get a sufficiently 
thorough general and practical training before they are forced to 
become specialists by preparing their degree “Arbeit”; nor are 
advanced lectures utilised to the extent they might be as a means 
of teaching. In my training the advanced lectures afforded me 
such delight that I deeply sympathise with the unsuspecting German 
students who are foregoing a similar pleasure. 
The kindness and courtesy of the Professor and his Assistants 
are very great, and will not be forgotten by foreigners who have had 
the privilege of studying here. One can always learn something 
from everyone, but in this Institute, where there is such a broad¬ 
minded Professor and such an international studentship one has 
special opportunities. M.C.S. 
Miinchen, Konigl. Pflanzenphysiologisches Institut. 
Feb. 1904. 
p. MADLEY, PRINTER, WHITFIELD STREET, LONDON, W. 
