ogj BOTANICAL GAZETTE. 



Mr. Lester F. Ward has had a paper published in the pro- 

 ceedings of the Phil. Soc. of Washington entitled "Field and Closet 

 Notes on the Flora of Washington and Vicinity." It is a most ex- 

 haustive consideration of the subject and may well serve as a guide in 

 the study of other floras. In a comparison of the fl ora of 1830 with 

 that of 1880, Mr. Ward makes it appear that over 80 species have 

 actually disappeared from the region in that time, or have become so 

 rare that their stations have not been discovered. if these 

 represent only the observed disappearances, probably the 

 actual number is much greater. A detailed description 

 of localities of special interest to botanists is given and they 

 make one's fingers twitch to be collecting such specie.s as are 

 mentioned. The flowering time of a large number of species has 

 been especially noted as the time in the region studied does not accord 

 with that given in the manuals, being usually several weeks earlier. 

 Second or fall-blooming of vernal species was noted in 17 species, 

 the majority being Gamopctalce. Seven well defined albinos are listed 

 the genera being Desmodium, Liatris, Rhododendron, Vinca, Mertensia, 

 Sahbatia and Pontcdcria. Many tables are given which give statistical 

 views of the Flora from various standpoints. The whole number of 

 species is 1,249, which compares very favorably with the floras of 

 much more extended regions. 



Dr. William Siemens during last winter and spring repeated and 

 enlarged upon his experiments of the year before, showing the appli- 

 cations of electric energy to horticulture and agriculture. His pre- 

 viously stated results were largely confirmed, and it seems to be no 

 longer a matter of doubt that electricity wiil become as important a 

 factor in horticultuie as heat and water, whenever its production can 

 be made reasonably cheap. The favorable effect of continuous light is 

 re-affirmed, and plants seem to be able to work unceasingly and the 

 beautiful nyctitropic actions, so elaborately worUed out by Dr. Dar- 

 win, are more from the absence of light than from the need of rest, 

 and might well be dispensed with if light could be supplied uninter 

 ruptedly. Thus development from -'the early leaf to the ripened 

 fruit" can go on at a greatly accelerated pace, and not only will the 

 resulting seeds not lose any germinating power but the fruit will gain 

 in size, aroma and color. 



Prof. W. J. Beal has just published an excellent lecture upon 

 "The New Botany," being a consideration of the best method of 

 teaching. The lecture is one that should be in the hands of every 

 teacher of botany, so full is it of suggestions that can be acted up- 

 on, even by those who have no laboratory appliances. The whole ef 

 fort of the method given is lo cultivate in the pupil just what many of 

 us have long been struggling after, namely, the ability for original re- 

 search. No matter what method of teaching botany is employed, 

 if it teaches and stimulates the pupil to observe, it 

 is based upon the correct principle. There may be as 

 many ways of gaining this end as there are good teachers, and 

 every true teacher will leave his own impress upon the method em- 

 ployed. But those who can not originate methods, had better follow 



