1898] NOTES AND COMMENTS 373 



directly traversed by canals. The chambers are also irregularly 

 divided by thin, apparently non-perforate, partitions. The walls 

 are now of crystalline calcite of secondary origin and nothing is 

 known of their original characters. 



This sponge is closely allied to forms from the Productus lime- 

 stone of the Salt Range, India, and from the province of Asturias, 

 Spain. So far as mode of growth is concerned, these Carboniferous 

 Calcisponges resemble the similarly segmented sponge genera 

 Barroisia, ThalamoiJora, T'remacystia, &c, from the Lower and Upper 

 Greensand, but no true comparison is possible until the minute 

 nature of the wall in the palaeozoic forms has been ascertained. 

 If this should prove to be spicular in character, there can hardly be 

 any further doubt of their relationship to the Cretaceous genera 

 referred to. These latter have recently been placed with the 

 Sycons by Dr Rauff, but their true systematic position is not 

 yet fully established. It should be remembered that the segmented 

 mode of growth is not limited to the Pharetron Calcisponges ; it is 

 also well shown in the Jurassic Hexactinellid genus, Casearia of 

 Quenstedt. 



Botany and Agriculture 



We have received several publications which are of interest to the 

 agriculturist abroad. From New South Wales comes a " Manual of 

 the Grasses " of the colony, issued by the Government botanist, Mr 

 J. H. Maiden. It is a praiseworthy attempt to bring the native 

 grasses before the farmer and botanist, not only for purposes of 

 identification, but as a guide for their cultivation and improve- 

 ment. New South Wales has, according to present knowledge, 

 about 200 indigenous species included in 56 genera, and of each 

 of these the author gives an adequate botanical description (in 

 English), with references to figures previously published, and in 

 addition any information he has been able to gather on the 

 value as fodder and other uses. There are also notes on habitat 

 and geographical range in the Continent. Of some of the species 

 useful figures, including habit and floral dissections, are given. 



Mr Maiden also sends a pamphlet on the vegetation of Lord 

 Howe Island, to which he paid a short visit at the beginning of 

 the year. His collections have resulted in several additions to the 

 flora of this little island, which, as at present known, includes 217 

 indigenous species of flowering plants and ferns, with 20 introduced 

 ones. The chief difficulty with which the farmer has to contend is 

 the wind ; it is said to be no uncommon thing for it to blow strongly 

 for three months at a stretch. The wind-break question is therefore 

 an important one, and every patch of cultivation is protected by belts 

 of indigenous or planted trees. 



