304 THE PIvANT WORIvD 



writer is the only connection with the old management. That the maga- 

 zine rests securely upon successful prospects there is no need to doubt, 

 for its new editor is assured of the hearty cooperation of a large body of 

 American botanists and teachers. Let us hope that its financial condi- 

 tion may be such as to justify a notable increase in size and adoption of 

 the policy of paying for contributions. In the mean time we feel confident 

 that it enters upon its eighth volume with the best wishes of all its 

 readers. 



A WELL-KNOWN weekly reports a new process, recently discovered in 

 England, for preserving timber by the use of sugar. The timber is placed 

 in vats and covered with a solution of beet sugar. As the solution boils, 

 the air is driven from the wood, the fibres taking up the solution. The 

 wood so treated is then dried in a hot oven, the extent of drying depend- 

 ing on the variety. The treatment is reported to result in the toughening 

 of the timber, making it heavier and more durable as well. An important 

 application of this solution is to green and unseasoned timbers, to make 

 them immediately available without fear of warping and shrinking. The 

 solution of sugar permeates the wood so thoroughly that the wood loses 

 its porous character, and consequently takes a finer finish, and seems to 

 be stronger under some conditions. " Resistance to dry-rot is another 

 claim made for this process." It is possible that the addition of certain 

 poisons to the solution will assure the prevention of depredations by 

 termites and other wood-tunnelling insects, so commonly destructive to 

 timber in sub-tropical and tropical countries. 



The Rev. Mr. Cook, late of England, has left his present Minnesota 

 home for an extended trip to the sources of the Para River in southwestern 

 Brazil. He formerly went from England to the interior of Brazil as a 

 missionary. With his duties he also took great interest in the natural 

 history, making large collections in some groups of plants and animals. 

 He has remained in this country during the last year or two. Now he 

 has sailed to resume his labors, but with the avowed intention of observ- 

 ing closely the anthropology of the natives and of collecting extensively 

 the plants of the region. 



