CURRENT LITERATURE.
The Natural History of Plants. From the German of Anton Kerner von Marilaun. By F. W. Oliver, D.Sc. With the assistance of Marian Busk, B.Sc., and Mary F. Ewart, B.Sc. Half-Vol. I. (Blackie and Son.)—Professor Kerner von Marilaun, after an introductory chapter, in which he discusses the "Study of Plants in Ancient and Modern Times" (of ancient times there is little to be said from the scientific point of view), pro- ceeds, we may say, to begin at the beginning. He first deals with the discovery of the protoplasmic cell, and so introduces the general theme of plant-life. From this the next step is to "Absorption of Nutriment," nutriment being divided into organic and inorganic, while water is separately treated (there is a peculiarly interesting chapter on "Symbiosis," the process by which, to speak popularly, plants go into partnership, and derive mutual benefit therefrom). The following section is devoted to the "Conduction of Food,"—i.e., the processes by which the nutri- ment acquired is distributed. This bald summary gives no idea of the wealth of interest which the reader, who need not be a scientific student, will find in these pages. The marvels of plant-life are scarcely inferior, if inferior at all, to those of the life of animals. As Professor Oliver remarks, "no marked boundary-line exists" between the two worlds. The work, which is to be concluded in four half-volumes, is copiously illustrated.
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