123 
interest, but of great practical importance in regard to the cutting 
of timber. 
When the starch is naturally transforming, or is transformed, 
it is a good media in most woods, if exposed, for the growth of 
various ferments and moulds—in short, fungi, which hasten the 
decay of the sap-wood at least. P:-H. DUDLEY: 
Index to Recent American Botanical Literature, 
Agave Americana, (Gard. Month., xxviii, p. 171.) 
We are informed that a century plant is about coming into 
flower in the garden of Mr. George Casey, at Auburn, N. Y. 
Algo-Lichen Flypothesis.—A Résumé of the. ¥. WH. Knowlton. 
(Amer. Month. Micros. Journ., vii., pp. 101-105.) 
In a paper read before the Biological Society of Washington, 
Mr. Knowlton discusses the hypothesis of the compound nature 
of lichens advanced by Schwendener in 1868, and since elabor- 
ated by other botanists, and concludes with Rev. J. M. Crombie 
that the evidence thus far adduced is insufficient to warrant its 
acceptance. 
Arctostaphylos—Notes on the United States Pacific Coast Species. 
C.C. Parry. (Proc. Davenport Acad. Nat. Sci., iv., pp. 31- 
37.) ‘ 
Arctic Alge—WNotes on ; based principally on collections made 
at Ungava Bay by L. M. Turner, in 1884. W. G. Farlow. 
(Proc, Amer. Acad. Arts and Sci., xxi., pp. 470, 471.) 
The collections contain a number of Floridez which are sel- 
dom seen in herbaria. 150 specimens of De/esseria were collected 
which tend to show that D. corymbosa and D. Berii are bnt one 
species. 
Chorizanthe.—A Revision of the Genus. C.C. Parry. (Proc. 
Davenport Acad. Nat. Sci., iv., pp. 45-65.) 
Conifers.— Contributions to the History of Certain Species of. 
Maxwell T. Masters. (Journ. Linn. Soc., xxii., pp. 169-212, 
plates II-X and woodcuts.) 
Those who are specially interested in this group will find 
much to attract them in this article, illustrated as it is on almost 
