JS6 THE PLANT WORLD. 



ing one botanically. It is easily to be repeated, and I have no doubt 

 the fruit of Z. Carolbiiamiui would yield the same result as that of 

 he other species. — C. A. White, SviitJisonian Insfitjition. 



. . . BOOK REVIEWS . . 



Bulletin of the New York Botanical Garden. Vol. i, No. 4. 

 Issued April 13, 1899. 



This issue of the Garden series is of more than ordinary interest, 

 as it contains, in addition to the annual report of the Director-in-chief, 

 a list of the wild and cultivated plants in Bronx Park, and several 

 botanical contributions by Dr. Small and others, in which numerous 

 new species are described. It appears that the herbaceous collection 

 now contains 2,110 species and varieties in established condition, a 

 truly remarkable record in view of the short period since horticultural 

 operations commenced. The museum and laboratory building is ex- 

 pected to be ready for occupancy by midsummer, and in anticipation 

 of this event the working force of the Garden is being rapidly organized. 



Of the botanical contributions the most important is Dr. Rydberg's 

 revision of the cespitose willows of Arctic America and the Rocky 

 Mountains. The author rather naively introduces his paper with an 

 explanation of the reasons which have led him to undertake the work, 

 one of these being that he considers it may prove serviceable to Prof. 

 Rowlee, who is engaged in monographing Salix for the " Systematic 

 Botany of North America." Dr. Rydberg's experience in the West 

 undoubtedly gives weight to his conclusions, and we fear that he is 

 unduly modest in treating his careful monograph merely as a stepping 

 stone to be used by another specialist. One bad practice is to be ob- 

 served in several subdivisions of the specific keys; it is that of includ- 

 ing statements not properly antithetical. Thus we find in the key to 

 the Reticulatse: "Lower portion of filaments very hairy; leaves 

 strongly reticulate " matched with " filaments almost glabrous; leaves 

 less strongly reticulate; bracts cuneate oblong, yellow, almost 

 glabrous." The first phrase would have been amply sufficient; for 

 " strongly reticulate " and " less strongly reticulate " make but a faint 

 impression on the reader, while the statement concerning the bracts 

 in the second division has its antithesis is only in the subheadings of 

 the first. 



The remainder of the contributions consist of miscellaneous new 

 species by Dr. Small, new Southern grasses by Mr. Nash, and a new 

 Mexican Sedum by Dr. Britton. Several excellent photographs of 

 characteristic scenes in the Garden are appended to the bulletin. 



—C. L. P. 



