Floristik, Geographie, etc. — Agricultur, Horticultur, etc. 335 



possede, parmi les manuscrits d'Ald rovandi, les legons de Ghini 

 professees ä Pise et plusieurs „placiti" ou notes sur certaines 

 „simples" qu'il envoya ä Mattioli en 1551. Les legons sont au 

 nombre de 86; l'auteur en donne les titres. Les notes relatives ä 

 plus de 50 especes de „simples" ont ete en grande partie utilisees 

 par Mattioli dans les editions successives de ses „Commentarii". 

 L'auteur les public en entier en faisant ressortir les parties utilisees 

 par Mattioli et, en meme temps, la vaste erudition de Ghini. 



Ce memoire, riche en renseignements historiques sur les rela- 

 tions scientifiques entre les botanistes du XVIe siecle, renferme aussi 

 la genealogie de Luca Ghini et deux index: Fun des auteurs 

 cites, l'autre des „simples" dont il s'agit dans les „placiti". 



G. B. Traverso (Padova). 



Hodge, F. W., (Editor) et al. Handbook of American Indians 

 north of Mexico. (Bull. 30. Pt. 1. Bureau of American Ethno- 

 logy, Smithsonian Institution. [Washington. D. C. Govt. Printing 

 Office], 8*^. 9, 972 pp. with numerous process cuts and halftone 

 illustrations in the text and 1 folding map. 1907.) 



The first part of this monumental work that has been in prepa- 

 ration for nearly 26 years has hnally been issued. It consists of 

 articles arranged alphabetically and signed by initials to which a 

 key is given in the preface from which it appears that 46 authors 

 have contributed besides Major W. J. Powell under whose direction 

 the work was begun and whose Classification of the Indian tribes 

 by linguistic affinity, shown in the accompanying colored map, was 

 a necessary prelude to the study of tribal synonomy. 



The work is primarily a dictionary of the tribes and clans of 

 the Indians of North America north of Mexico, with detailed 

 synonomy and references to literature. It contains also Indian place 

 names, biographical Sketches of noted Indians and many articles on 

 historical, scientific and economic subjects. The principal food, 

 medicinal and ceremonial plants are given separate and the food 

 habits of many tribes are given in some detail. 



In the present volume the articles on Agriculture, (C.Thomas), Bark, 

 (O. T. Mason), Black drink, an infusion of Hex cassine, (W. Hough), Cot- 

 ton, (W. Hough), Food, (W. Hough), Hominy, a preparation ofmaize, 

 (A. F. Chamberlain and J. N. B. Hewett), Irrigation, (A. C. Flet- 

 cher), Maple sugar, made from Acey Saccharum, Marsh., (A. F. Cham- 

 berlain), Maize, (C. Thomas) and Mescal, the roasted leaf-bases 

 of Agave, (W. Hough), will be of interest to all students of econo- 

 mic botany. Many botanical articles are contributed by Prof. Alex. 

 F. Chamberlain. The work will be indispensable for all interested 

 in the native American economic plants as utilized by the abori- 

 gines. W. T. Swingle. 



Willis, J. C. and M. K. Bamber. Experiments in Creosoting 

 and Blocking Wet Rubber. (Circulars and Agricultural Journal 

 of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Ceylon. Vol. IV, NO. 1907.) 



Experiments were commenced to test the possibility of shipping 

 undried block rubber, preserved with the aid of creosote. 



The creosote was dissolved in methjiated spirit, and mixed with 

 the latex, acetic acid being added in the usual wa^^ 



The latex was rapidly coagulated in a Michie-Golledge machine, 

 the mass cut up, washed, and immedialety blocked for two or three 



