Jahrbücher für wissenschaftliche Botanik.

Abstract

THE second decade of volumes of the Jahrbucher is now begun, and up to the present shows no sign of any falling off from the high standard of excellence attained by the former parts. It is somewhat remarkable that such a work can be carried on successfully. Profusely illustrated (having about 500 plates in the ten vols.), and containing papers of great merit, it is at once evidence of the marvellous botanical activity of the Germans, and the energy of their publishers. A glance at the list of papers in the ten volumes shows that the Jahrbucher contain papers that have become classical, and have been contributed by men who have risen to the highest eminence in botanical science. Comparatively few of the papers are contributed by Russians or Italians, hence this one work may be looked on as almost wholly the result of German research. The papers contributed are chiefly morphological and physiological, although occasionally one having immediate bearings on taxonomy is introduced. There can be little doubt that the German university system tends greatly to foster original research, not only in botany, but in all other departments. The botanical institutes, with laboratory, garden, and herbarium attached, the way in which the students are induced not only to learn but to work under the superintendence of the professor, the whole system of private teachers and mode of promotion of the professors fosters research, and gives a thoroughness and heartiness to the work. In certain departments of botany, Britain is second to none with her Hooker, Bentham, and Darwin, but when we consider the enormous “microscope” power of Britain, we cannot help thinking that much of it goes to waste. There must be hundreds of microscopists residing near our coasts, yet what do we know of the reproduction of our algae? A glance at the “Botanischer Jahresbericht” shows how few British botanists there are, and also that each contributes comparatively few papers per year. But quality is better than quantity—work slowly and well. The time is no doubt coming when we may look for increased botanical activity, perhaps the union of botanical studies to medicine has had something to do with the comparative depression, and if botany becomes a preliminary instead of a purely professional study by becoming more diffused, a greater taste for the subject may arise, Fahrbucher fur wissenschaftliche Botanik. Herausgegeben von Dr. A. Pringsheim. Elfter Band. Erstes und Zweites Heft. (Leipzig: W. Engelmann, 1877.)