Botanical Gazette. 



Vol. V. JULY, 1880. No. 7. 



Editorial. — Dr. J. T. Rothrock left this country for Ger- 

 many, June 19, to spend a few months in some of the renowned bo- 

 tanical laboratories there. He is specially interested in the prepara- 

 tion of anatomical studies and we may expect from him slides even 

 superior to those he has already produced. 



Mr. S. T. Fergus, of Westchester, Penn., is a young man who 

 is doing some most excellent work in the preparation of slides for the 

 microscope. We have before us a half-dozen of as handsome slides 

 as we have ever seen. He seems to be particularly successful in the 

 bleaching of ferns, and, by means of double staining, the spores are 

 brought out in very sharp outline. For class use or for private study 

 nothing better could be given than a well-selected lot of slides, such 

 as Mr. Fergus prepares. We would cordially recommend him to 

 botanists as one worthy their patronage. 



Baron Eggers has sent out a prospectus in which is promised 

 the scientific exploration of the West Indies. The natural history of 

 these islands is very imperfectly known, and what has been done 

 gives us very scrappy results. Baron Eggers now proposes a thorough 

 exploration of the islands tor the purpose of freshening up knowledge 

 already gained, but more for the discovery of the unknown species 

 that he is confident are lurking there. The Baron starts in with the 

 advantage of many years of study in the botany of the West Indies 

 and the organization of exploration under his experienced guidance 

 must bring very great results for very little outlay. The object of the 

 prospectus is to invite the co-operation of botanists by subscribing for 

 sets already made and still to be made. Subscriptions, stating the 

 address, kind and number of collections desired, should be sent to 

 Baron Eggers, St. Thomas, West Indies, by the istofjuly. Pay- 

 ment will be made upon the delivery of the collections. The price 

 per hundred species for Phsenogams is $12 50; for Cryptogams, $10. 

 If botanists desire, arrangements can be made to send only their 

 desiderata. 



The Valley Naturalist comes to the front again, and through 

 a circular letter promises to revive itself, under a somewhat altered 

 form, for .$1.50 per year. It is to be published monthly and will con- 

 sist of sixteen pages, and appeals to naturalists of every kind for a 

 support. It calls for the "minor notes that every working naturalist 

 daily makes, and however interesting they may be, often remain 

 forever buried in the note-book of the observer." Now, we have 

 been fishing for these same "minor notes" for some years past, and 



