104 BOTANICAL GAZETTE. 



Davenport, after a study of aspidium spmulosum and its varieties, comes to the con- 

 clusion that the varieties included under the intermedium and Boottii are entitled to 

 specific rank. The latter he accordingly restores to specific rank as A. Boottii, Tuck- 

 erman, but the former cannot be called A. intermedium., Willd., for that name has been 

 \vrou"-lY applied to our plant, and Willdenough's description has nothing to do with 

 the form in question, but with A. spinvhtsum. This leaving no name for our American 

 form Mr. Davenport gives the name ^1. Anwricamim. Mention is made in the general 

 notes of a new classification of the Vegetable Kingdom proposed by Prof. Carnel, 

 of Pisca, in his recent work La Morfolojia Vegetale. He proposes to divide it into 

 five primary groups, namely: 1. Phanerognmin; 2, Schistogamia, including Charaeece 

 only; 3, P;v>f/ir<«<;'^«v«iV/, or Vasucular Cryptograms; 4, Bryognmia (synonymous with 

 Mmcine(e); and 5, Gymnogamnia (Thallophyta or Cellular Cryptograms. 



A curious result of the effects of sharp frost is noted by a correspondent of TAe 



London Gardeners Chronicle. Polyanthus flowers of very deep crimson hues, especi- 

 ally those approaching to black, presented an appearance as if scorched, while those 

 of lio-ht colors were comparatively uninjured. Early primroses in the open ground 

 showed the same peculiarity. 



The Iowa Agricultural College Quarterly cites census statistics of 1875, showing that 



the area of natural forest in that State is butOia i)er cent, of the whole surface, and 

 that fully half of all the trees are along the Des Moines River. Up to the date named 

 the woodlands had been increased artificially one thirty -third. 



According to Revue Iloiiicole, the Dutch protect fruit blossoms from unlimely frost 



by placing vessels of water at the base of the tree or plant, taking care to remove ice if 

 anv forms. Doubtful as the plan appears, it is said to be more efficient tlian coverings 

 of canvas or branches. 



—A gardener in England removes green algal and confervoid growth from damp 

 walls, and keeps it down a year or longer by painting with a solution of chloride of 

 lime. The same application is made to gravel walks with a watering-pot, with equally 

 satisfactory results. 



— Among noteworthy specimens seen at the recent Edingburg Fungus Show was a 

 Polyporus gignnteus, three feet six inches in diameter, and a puff-bail {Lycoperdon gi- 

 gnnteum), fifty-four inches in circumference and weighing twenty pounds. 



— An old record refers to a plant of China-grass {Ba'hmeria nirin) which, sent from 

 England to the island of Jamaica in 1854, attained a height of six feet in fourteen 

 days. — N. Y. Timers. 



Prospectus. — With this number we close the third volume of the Botanical Ga- 

 zette. We enter upon Volume IV. with a greater feeling of stability than ever before, 

 and with the hope that the support of the coming year will put all questions of the 

 permanency of the journal far out of sight. In three years we haye established such 

 a patronage and position that the Gazette should command the confidence and ener- 

 getic support of all botanists. If such will be given we can promise much greater 

 things. We have been urged to raise the subscription price, but have concluded to 

 keep it at its present rate, at least, for the coming year, hoping that we will obtain sub- 

 scribers enough to justif^y us. We hope to have the continued support of the leading 

 botanists of the couutiy, and can promise to subscribers the very best botanical matter 

 that can be procured for a journal of such limited capacity. We would also call at- 

 tention to our rates of advertisement, and hope that the patrons of the Gazette who 

 have anything pertaining to botany to sell, exchange, or procure, will make use of its 

 columns. Subscriptions and articles should be sent in at once, that the work of the 

 coming year may be fairlv before us. — Eds. 



