257 
It is interesting to note that when the “Index” was com- 
menced the ‘‘Gazette” expressed the hope that there would be 
sufficient matter to “keep this department always full, but we 
doubt it.” (Bot. Gaz. xi. 66.) 
Sphagna Boreali-Americana Exsiccata. Prospectus—The under- 
signed propose to issue, about two years from the present time, 
sets of specimens of North American Sphagna. The number 
of species attributed to the United States and British America is 
now nearly fifty, and many of them have never been distributed. 
Many of the species are represented by several varieties; so 
that for anything like a full series, there should be at least one 
hundred forms in the collection; perhaps one hundred and thirty 
would be a better estimate. It is proposed to prepare not less 
than sixty sets of the specimens, and to offer a set to each person 
who may supply three or more acceptable forms in quantity suffi- 
cient for distribution. The remaining sets will be used for foreign 
exchanges, and for sale at a price to be named hereafter. Promises 
of assistance have been received already from Mrs. E. G. Britton 
of Columbia College, Prof. John Macoun of Canada, Dr. W. A. 
Setchell and Dr. A. W. Evans of New Haven, Dr. A. W. Chap- 
man of Florida, Mr. J. K. Small of Lancaster, Penn., Mr. Edward 
L. Rand of Boston, and others, and there is every reason to hope 
that the collection may be made to include nearly all the known 
Species of temperate North America. 
Most of the species the undersigned feel competent to identify; 
any that are in the least degree doubtful will be submitted to Dr. 
C. Warnstorf, the most learned living sphagnologist, for final de- 
termination. 
A few hints as to preserving specimens may be offered. All 
the plants for one series of sixty specimens should be gathered at 
one time and place, to avoid the chance of mixing two different 
forms under one number. The plants of dense habits of growth 
should be separated into broad, thin specimens while fresh, cleaned 
of foreign matter, and preserved in botanizing portfolios in the 
usual manner, taking care not to subject them to any severe com- 
Pression. Just enough pressure to keep them flat is enough. 
Floating plants, such as the plumose forms of S. cuspidatum, are 
best prepared by spreading the specimens on letter-paper, as is 
