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Prof. Schmitz's remarks on the specimen sent him, and that the sentence ought to read:-" Prof. Schmitz, to whom I sent a specimen, gave his opinion on it in the following words :-- Der Thallusbau erinnert sehr an Nemastoma? palmata, Harv. Phyc. Aust. 262, so dass wohl beide Arten zu derselben Gattung gehören dürften, doch gehören sie meines erachtens keinenfalls zu Nemastoma.' (The structure of the thallus reminds one very much of Nemastoma? palmata Harv. Phyc. Aust. 262, so that both species might very well belong to the same genus, but in my view they do not by any means belong to Nemastoma.)

NOTICES OF BOOKS.

Beiträge zur Morphologie und Physiologie der Pflanzenzelle. Herausgeg. von Dr. A. ZIMMERMANN. 8vo. Bd. I. pp. 322; with 5 plates and 23 figures in the text. Tubingen, 1893. H. Laupp.

14s.

THE Volume now before us contains fifteen communications, of various lengths, on the microscopic structure and contents of the plant-cell. For the greater number Dr. Zimmermann himself is responsible. Thus of the three "Hefts," Nos. I. and II. are entirely his, while of the seven articles in No. III. he contributes four and C. Correns two, a shorter one on the alga Apiocystis Brauniana Naeg., and a longer on the minute structure of the membrane in the Chlorophycea and Floridea. Finally, K. Schips has a note on some cuticular formations in the epidermis of the fruit of the liliaceous plant, Rohdea japonica.

The book begins with a brief historic note on plasma connection, in which Dr. Zimmermann points out that while we owe the first published account to Tangl, it is evident from some notes and drawings found at Tubingen among Hofmeister's effects, that the latter botanist had previously observed the perforation of the pit-closing membrane in the endosperm. The author thinks it an act of piety to make this more generally known, and therefore exactly reproduces Hofmeister's figures of sections of the endosperm of Phytelephas macrocarpa and Raphia tædigera.

This is followed by some facts about leucoplasts. In species of Tradescantia and Zebrina these bodies are not homogeneous, as has hitherto been supposed, but contain spherical bodies in greater or less quantity, which are designated provisionally "Leukosomen."

Leucosomata, according to present knowledge, are, however, not widely distributed. The author finds them in the epidermis, mechanical tissue, and parenchyma of the leaf-trace bundles, but not of the cauline, of Tradescantia albiflora, T. discolor, and Zebrina pendula, whereas in the common species of Tradescantia and Commelina the leucoplasts are homogeneous, and never contain leucosomata. He thinks they are of proteid nature, standing as regards function in the same category with the crystalline proteid

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contents of the chromatophore, the physiological significance of which is, however, not yet clear. Experiments only gave negative results. Absence of light had no effect; after fifteen days of darkness a plant of Tradescantia albiflora showed no alteration in the form or size of the leucosomata, and cultures in solutions, both rich and poor in nitrogenous food-stuff, were equally barren of result.

In the third article, on the chromatophores in chlorotic leaves, the same observer shows that such leaves always contain sharply defined chromatophores which on treating with iron solution become chloroplasts, growing considerably as well as becoming green. In the case of strong chlorosis it was often only possible to make out the chromatophores by aid of suitable stains. As regards capacity for breaking up carbonic acid and forming starch, he finds that in relatively strong chlorosis the chromatophores are not only unable to assimilate the carbonic acid of the atmosphere, but will not even form starch when supplied with a sugar solution; at any rate, will only do so in a very limited degree.

The fourth article deals with the demonstration, properties, distribution and function of the granula, a new structure discovered in the assimilation tissue when investigating the leucoplasts of Tradescantia discolor, and revealed by subsequent research in very many other plants of the most diverse families. The granula is spherical in form, or, in one case, the young leaves of Polypodium irioides, drawn out into rod-like structures. In size it is considerably smaller than the chloroplasts, but varies according to the species within wide limits, and is often so small that very good objectives are necessary for its detection. The number in a cell is also very variable, and the position is not the same in all cases; rarely are they regularly distributed over the whole primordial utricle, but mostly occur near the chromatophores, or sometimes heaped up round the nucleus. From a few observations on the chemical reaction Dr. Zimmermann thinks the granula must consist only of proteids. It is of very wide distribution, occurring in many families of Dicotyledons and Monocotyledons, in Cryptomeria elegans among the Coniferæ, Ceratozamia mexicana among the Cycads, and in five genera of true ferns. Its presence in the mosses is uncertain, and in algæ containing pyrenoids it could not be found. The only other alga investigated was a species of Chara, where large roundish clumps were found in the streaming cytoplasm, which from their considerable size and abnormal form are probably not identical with the granula. As regards function, its wide distribution seems evidence of its importance in the chemistry of the organism, probably in connection with the formation or travelling of proteid.

These few remarks will give the reader some idea of the contents of this interesting volume. For the rest we will only say that in two articles Dr. Zimmermann discusses the protein crystalloid, its occurrence in various parts of the cell, and its distribution through the plant kingdom; and in other two the growth of the cell-wall. He also contributes short articles on oil-plastids; on some cystolith-like swellings of the cell-wall in the epidermis of Cyperus alternifolius, composed of silica and cellulose; and on the

secretion of sphæroids of calcium phosphate in the cells of an undetermined species of Cyperus.

We may add, in conclusion, that the text and illustrations are in every way satisfactory. A. B. RENDle.

British Forest Trees and their sylvicultural characteristics and treatment. By JOHN NISBET, D. Ec., of the Indian Forest Service. Macmillan & Co. Pp. 352, 8vo. Price 6s. net.

DR. NISBET is undoubtedly justified in the suggestion in the Preface to this work that sylviculture is as yet but little understood in Britain. It may also be inevitable that such a work must at present "be, to a considerable extent, a compilation from the best German sources," and not "based on long experience in the treatment of forests in Britain"; but we are hardly prepared to admit that "fifteen years' active service in the teak forests of tropical Burma" is an altogether relevant test of the correctness of the scientific principles enunciated in Germany for the treatment of woodland in this country.

The author's two main contentions are, "firstly, that in general the plantations are not quite so dense as they should be in order to attain the utmost outturn and the best development producible by the soil; and secondly, that the importance of underplanting for the protection and improvement of the productive capacity of the soil is either not recognised, or at any rate not practically given effect to." These opinions he maintains, though "taking into consideration the damper insular climate of Britain, in which the soil is not so likely to deteriorate as on the inland forest tracts of the Continent."

66

Even the best German sources" of information seem anything but infallible, judging from the statements (p. 2) that the hornbeam was "introduced before the end of the fifteenth century," the juniper and the holly "during the sixteenth," and the maple and buckthorn "during the seventeenth"; that England and Wales are "the richest countries in coal in the whole world" (p. 9); and that "ash, maple, sycamore and elm, require a moderate quantity of lime in the soil, and beech, hornbeam, oak, as also larch and Austrian pine, thrive best on soils that have at least some lime in their composition" (p. 31).

The book contains much valuable matter as to the requirements, treatment and dangers of each of our forest trees, though it might have been more convenient if this part of the work had been subdivided into chapters. There is, however, one important practical matter to which, although not purely botanical, we feel bound to refer, viz., that the author, after very rightly laying down in his Preface the principle that sylviculture in Britain should rest on a sound financial basis, strongly advocates the planting of spruce. He does so apparently on the purely theoretical ground of its rate of growth in cubic contents; but we cannot help suspecting that he is thinking of a soil somewhat superior to that usually devoted to woodland in England. What is, however, a more vital objection

to his proposal, on his own principle, is the difficulty in finding & market for spruce timber. Where larch, Douglas fir, pine, or even silver fir can be grown, spruce would probably be as neglected as as it now is in Sweden.

Dr. Nisbet does not put forward his work as an elementary manual for students, but " for the use of landowners and of those already engaged in practical forestry," and such readers will find much in it which is useful and suggestive, whilst their insular conservatism will no doubt prevent them from accepting his conclusions in too wholesale a manner. G. S. BOULGER.

Bulbous Irises. By Prof. MICHAEL FOSTER, Secretary R.S., &c. 8vo, 85 pages, 58 woodcuts. Published by the Royal Horticultural Society, 117, Victoria Street, S.W. 5s.

We now know a great deal more about the bulbous Irises than we did when I monographed them in this Journal more than twenty years ago. And we may say about Irises emphatically what holds good more or less for all petaloid monocotyledons, that all descriptions of species drawn up from dried specimens require to be corrected and amplified from the study of the living plant. Twenty-nine species (counting nepalensis and tuberosa) are now known, against fourteen in 1871. They inhabit the Mediterranean and Oriental regions, extending into Central Asia and the north of India. They have now nearly all been brought into cultivation and several of them are very ornamental. There were two splendid beds of Iris Xiphion in flower at Kew this summer near the Cactus-house, showing great variety of colour, and the thousand bulbs only cost eight shillings; and two similar beds of Iris xiphioides, which flowered a fortnight later and only cost double the price of the others.

Professor Foster gives first a popular account of the different species and their cultural requirements, and afterwards a botanical synopsis of their distinctive characters and a clavis. He gives a great many woodcuts of the flowers, and in the synopsis dissections of each species, showing the shape of the stylebranches and perianth-segments, so that altogether the little book is a complete handbook for the group, suited for the needs either of the botanist or the cultivator. It is published by the Royal Horticultural Society and sold at half-price to the Fellows; but as it will not be included in the Journal of the Society, all who want it will have to make special application at the office, which is not a very convenient plan of publication. In including nepalensis and tuberosa Professor Foster writes:-"If a garden definition of a bulb be wanted, we may perhaps say it is a specially-fed bud which separates from the mother stock, in order to live an independent existence." This of course comprehends far more than botanists include under the term. There is no date on the title-page-an omission which seems to be becoming frequent.

J. G. B.

ARTICLES IN JOURNALS.

Annals of Botany (June). — D. H. Campbell, Development of Azolla filiculoides' (3 pl.). J. G. Baker, Synopsis of Genera and Species of Musea. P. Groom, Dischidia Rafflesiana' (1 pl.).— D. H. Scott & E. Sargant, Pitchers of D. Rafflesiana' (2 pl.).H. T. Brown & G. H. Morris, Chemistry and Physiology of Foliage-leaves.' W. B. Hemsley & A. Zahlbruckner, The genus Trematocarpus.'

Bot. Centralblatt. (Nos. 27-30).-St. J. Golinski, Zur Entwicklungsgeschichte des Andraceums und des Gynæceums der Gräser.' -A. Hausgirg, 'Ueber Gomont's Monographie des Oscillariées.'' Bot. Gazette (June 20).-J. D. Smith, Undescribed Plants from Guatemala' (3 pl.).-R. H. True, 'Development of the Caryopsis ' (3 pl.).-G. F. Atkinson, Biology of organism causing leguminous tubercles' (cont.). B. L. Robinson & H. E. Seaton, Allium Hendersoni & Calochortus ciliatus, spp. nn. Botanical Magazine (Tokio). –

luchuensis, sp. n.

(June 10). R. Yatabe, Eria

Bot. Zeitung (July 16).-L. Jost, 'Ueber Beziehungen zwischen der Blattentwickelung und der Gefässbildung in der Pflanze' (1 pl.). Bull. Soc. Bot. de Belgique (xxxi., 2nd fasc. 2: July 6). — T. Durand & H. Pittier, Primitia Flora Costaricensis.' P. Nypels, 'Tubercules d'Apios tuberosa et Helianthus tuberosus.' (xxxii., part 2). - F. Renauld & J. Cardot, Musci Exotici novi vel minus cogniti.' - P. Clerbois et A. Mansion, Phascum Floerkeanum en Belgique.' F. Crépin, L'obsession de l'individu dans l'étude des Roses.' - C. H. Delagne, Lejeunea culcarea & L. Rosettiana.' — T. Durand, Charles Antoine Strail' (d. Mar. 25). Id., Alphonse DeCandolle.'-L. Errera, Fréderic Christian Schübeler' (d. 1892). Bull. Torrey Bot. Club (June).-W. W. Bailey & J. F. Collins, 'Flora of Block Island.'. - J. F. Collins, Rhode Island Flora.'S. E. Jelliffe, Plants in Ridgewood Water Supply, Brooklyn.'B. D. Halstead, Identity of Anthracnose of Bean and Watermelon.'-T. C. Porter, Aster leiophyllus, sp. n. (1 plate). Erythea (July). J. B. Ellis & B. M. Everhardt,

New Californian Fungi.'E. L. Greene, Novitates Occidentales.'S. B. Parish, New Station for Notholana tenera.'-O. Kuntze, 'Remarks on the Genoa Congress.'

Coelogyne Clarkei Kranzlin, Pierre Poivre' (1719-86). (July 8). M. C. Cooke, Anthracnose of the Vine.'-(July 15). Epidendrum Wendlandianum Kranzlin, sp. n.—(July 22). Aglaonema rotundum N. E. Br., Caladium venosum, N. E. Br., C. rubescens N. E. Br., spp. nn.

Journal de Botanique (June 16). C. Flahault, Alphonse De Candolle.' E. Belzung, Nature des Sphérocristaux des Euphorbes cactiformes.' E. Bonnet, Plantes de Tunisie.'. - N. Patouillard, Une forme radicicole de l'Urocystis Anemones.' (July 1, 16). L. Guignard, Sur le développement de la graine' (cont.). F. Jadin, Dobinea et Podoon.' H. Hua, Mocquerysia (n. gen.) multiflora (Bixineæ).