480 AgricuUur, Korticultur, Forstbotanik. — Necrologie. 



Harris, W., Yams. (Bulletin Department of Agriculture, Ja- 

 maica. Vol. IV. p. 3—6. Jan. 1906.) 



The author refers the cultivated yams of Jamaica to four species. 



1. Dioscorea sativa Linn. „Negro Yam", of which three varieties 

 are recognized and distinguished by populär names. 



2. D. alata Linn. „White Yam", with twelve varieties. 



3. D. cayennensis Lam. „Yellow Yam". 



4. D. trifida Linn. „Indian Yam"^ „Yampee", or „Cush Cush". 



A fifth species D. biilbifera Linn. produces the „Acom Yam" the 

 tubers of which are rarely eaten but yieid a good starch. 



The botanical characteristics of each species are briefly described 

 and notes given on the colour, flavour, mode of cultivation of the several 

 varieties. Thcre is also a general account of the cultivation of yams 

 practised in Jamaica. W. G. Freeman. 



Madge, C. A., The Tobacco Industry of the United 

 States of America. (Transvaal Agr. Journal. IV. p. 29 

 —36. 1905.) 



The magnitude of the tobacco industry in the U. S. A. and Cuba 

 is emphasized. In the former country there are about 1000 000 acres 

 devoted to tobacco producing an annual crop of about S50000000 Ib of 

 dried leaf, whilst about i: 80000000 represents the sum yearly at stake 

 in the crop and industry. The Output of Cuba is about 45 000000 Ib 

 of cured tobacco. The author discusses some of the general features 

 of the industry in the United States with the object of demonstrating 

 the lines along which efforts shouid be m.ade in the Transvaal. 



It is established that tobacco can be grown on most soils in the 

 Coiony and that the leaf grown so far has many good qualities which 

 are capable of great improvement and he argues that no attempt shouid 

 be made to compete with American varieties but to improve the kinds 

 of tobacco to which the Transvaal is naturally adapted^ first for the 

 local requirements and later for export. W. G. Freeman. 



Mattirolo, J., Le lettere di Ulisse Aldrovandi a Fran- 

 cesco 1 e Ferdinando 1 Granduchi di Toscana 

 ed a Francesco Maria II Duca d'Urbino tratte dall 

 Archivio di Stato di Firenze ed illustrate. (Me- 

 moire della R. Accademia delle Scienze do Torino. Serie II. 

 Tomo LIV. 1904. p. 355—401.) 



Les lettres sont au nombre de 55:30 au Duc Francesco 1 (1577 

 — 1587), 18 ä Ferdinando 1 (1587—1604) et7ä Francesco Maria H 

 (1599—1604); elles accompagnent ordinairement l'envoi de dessins, graines 

 de plantes exotiques ou autres raretes naturelles aux puissants protec- 

 teurs d' Aldrovandi, qui recourt aussi souvent ä leur munificence 

 pour se procurer de nouveaux echantillons de productions naturelles ä 

 etudier. Particulierement interessante est la lettre n" XXXII dans laquelle 

 l'auteur resume le plan general de ses ouvrages, et fait ressortir l'esprit 

 scientifique et en demontre la valeur pratique. Suivent 12 lettres 

 (1599—1621) du Dr. G. Cuppellino au Duc d'Urbino, ayant rapport 

 ä la publication des oeuvres d' Aldrovandi. Une introduction assez 

 etendue illustre les conclusions suggerees par la lecture de cette 

 correspondance, sous le double point de vue de la biographie du grand 

 botaniste Italien et des conditions faites ä la science et aux savants dans 

 les cours italiennes des XVIe et XVIle siecle. G. Negri. 



Ausgegeben; 8. Mai 1906. 



Verlag von Gustav Fischer in Jena. 

 Druck von Gebrüder Gottüelft, Kgl. Hofbuchdrucker in Cassel. 



