Advanced Lectures in Botany. 
150 
current work carried out in his laboratory. This course was divided 
into three sections, devoted respectively to the “ Chemistry,” the 
“ Physiology,” and the “ Biology ” of the subject. The opening 
lecture dealt with the modern theory of the chemical organisation 
of the living cell as “ a colloidal honeycomb of katalytic agents.” 
In the treatment of the “ Physiology” of CCL-economy the lecturer 
was largely concerned with the important demonstration that the 
so-called “ optimum ” is at least, in the case of many processes, an 
“ illusion of experimentation ” whose cause is to be sought in that 
limitation of the rate of the process by some other factor. This 
demonstration led to the conclusion that the distinct chemical 
reactions proceeding in the cell are falling into line, as regards 
their dependence on external conditions, e.g. temperature, with 
chemical processes in vitro. In the concluding section the spatial 
relations of CO a to plants, and the possible secular changes in the 
composition of the atmosphere, as well as the relation of the gas to 
the ontogeny and the phylogeny of plants, were reviewed. 
The programme for next session has been revised, and now 
includes a course in the autumn on “The Facts of Heredity” by 
Mr. Bateson, and another in the Lent term by Professor Oliver on 
“ The Origin of the Gymnosperms,” while in the third term 
Professor Farmer will deal with the “ Bryophyta.” 
Courses for the following session are now being arranged by 
the Board of Studies. 
It will be seen that the high standard of these courses is being 
fully maintained, and we have every reason to congratulate the 
organisation of the University of London on this result of its 
reconstitution. The maintenance of a continuous series of first- 
rate advanced courses by leading English botanists, embodying the 
methods and results of current research, and furnishing oppor¬ 
tunities of the best kind to all advanced students with access to 
London, is an achievement of very high value. 
R. MADI.EY, PRINTER. WHITFIELD STREET, W. 
