BOTANICAL INFORMATION. 219 
of scientific and other works, voyages, histories of previous expeditions, 
etc., consisting of about one thousand volumes. This library is for the 
use of the officers alone. In the midships is another library intended 
for the use of the seamen, showing that every care has been taken to 
render this long voyage interesting, not only to those in command, and 
to the scientific gentlemen, but also to poor Jack. 
Many have confounded this Expedition with that of Japan, under the 
command of Commodore Perry, and we have even seen instances in 
which newspaper articles, in giving a list of the vessels composing the 
Japan Expedition, have enumerated those, or some of them, belonging 
to the present one. This is an error. Our understanding is, that 
there is no necessary connection between the squadron of Commodore 
Perry and that of Commander Ringgold, and that they are organized 
for entirely separate and distinct purposes. - 
Notes on the state of Botany in Italy. (From the * Bonplandia.’) 
Florence, March 17, 1853. 
I have little news to give you this time. No recent publications 
have come to my knowledge, except a few on the disease of the Vine, 
Which continue to appear every now and then. One is by a committee 
named by the authorities of the distriot of Calatagirone in Sicily, to 
investigate the subject. Also the Accademia dei Georgofili of Florence, 
in its sitting of February last, heard several papers on the same subject ; 
the principal one, botanically speaking, was that of M. Adolphus Tar- 
gioni, who tried to prove that the Fungi of the genus Oidium are only 
forms of Erisyphe in a peculiar state of development; without pretending 
to give an opinion on this question, I must remark that the proofs 
brought forward by M. Targioni in support of his views seem to me 
little conclusive. 
lam informed that Professor Sanguinetti has tendered his resigna- 
tion as director of the Botanical Garden at Rome, but that he is going 
to retain the professorship at the University. Another piece of news from 
Rome is that the councillor of that city, M. Vescovali, with the aid of 
a French gardener, is replanting the Pincian promenade with exotic 
trees adapted to the climate, and that they mean to have the trees 
ticketed with their names and country, for the instruction of the Roman 
people. 
