63 
form better adapted for preservation and with fuller details. As 
for the rationale of the movement, it has been carefully studied by 
others, Draper in this country and Sachs, for example, in Germany 
(confer Lehrbuch, 1873), whose investigations are entitled to respect. 
It is stated that Prof. Agassiz was present at the reading of this 
paper and gave it his emphatic approbation. His voice was ever 
prompt to encourage any direct interrogation of Nature,and botanists, 
as well as others, will miss his powerful influence in favor of science. 
6. The American Journal tor Nov. and Dee. contains as usual 
interesting botanical notices by Dr. Gray, particularly on the carni- 
voracity of Sarracenia, Drosera and Dionea. 7. In Nature, Nov. 
20th, Hermann Muller elucidates the remarkable varieties of Viola 
tricolor, in reference to self- or insect-fertilization.——8. Zhe American 
Naturalist regularly devotes a portion of its pages to botanical 
notes. As cited above, two of Watson’s Contributions were first 
publishedin it. In the December number the Publishers make an 
earnest appeal for more liberal support. The botanist needs to 
have some intelligence of what is doing in other branches of Natu- 
ral History, and nowhere will he find it so accessible as in this 
handsomely printed and ably edited Monthly. If our readers _will 
follow our advice, every one will subscribe to the American Natur- 
alist, the American Journal of Science and Art, the American Agri- 
culturist and Nature. oe 
§ 65. Chenopodium leptophyllum, Nutt——In examining the 
Chenopodiacew in Prof. Eaton’s herbarium, I was quite surprised 
to find a specimen of C. leptophyllum, collected by him at Absecom, 
N. J., “in maritimis.” It is not very rare from Colorado to New 
Mexico and westward, but this is the only Eastern specimen I have 
seen, I would like to call the attention of Eastern botanists to 
their collections, to ascertain if it has been gathered elsewhere. 
It is readily distinguishable—quite farinose, erect, slender, some- 
what ‘strict; the leaves all linear, entire and short-petioled; the 
flower and seeds smaller than in C. album, from which it may also 
be at once known by the pericarp’s readily separating from the seed, 
on rubbing between the fingers, leaving 1t smooth and shining. I 
would like to see the species confirmed as an Eastern one. 
I would also like to ascertain whether C. Boscianwm (C. album, 
var. Boscianum of Gray’s Manual, excluding synonym C. Borlan- — 
dieri,) has been found north of Pennsylvania, It ranges west to — 
Kentucky and Texas. sae hae 
C. album, C. Boscianum and C. Borlandieri are all good species. 
Boranic GARDEN, CamBripGE, Oct. 27, Sereno Watson. 
§ 66. Fertilization ofthe Yucca. —Dr. Englemann communicated to; 
the Bulletin some months ago, the interesting fact that the flowers 
were so constructed that self-fertilization was well-nigh impossible 
and, further, that impregnation was accomplished through the agen- 
cy of asmall night-moth, Pronuba Yuccasella. In connection with 
this subject, it may be interesting to note that, when making botan- 
ical collections in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado in 1871, I found 
the Yucca angustifolia producing seed abundantly everywhere, 
During my explorations the past season, though the plants were 
frequently met with, I did not find one single pod of seed, though 
