BOOK-NOTES, NEWS, ETC. 255 



apparatus, and, except in a few well-known places, the teaching 

 took the form of a more or less connected series of assertions by the 

 lecturer. Prof. MacDougall shows what can be done with com- 

 paratively simple and easily accessible tools. It will be remembered 

 (see Journ. Bot. 1894, p. 284) that he translated Oel's Pjianzen- 

 physiologische Versxiche, and he now retains the general form of that 

 book, and many of the illustrations. This is a distinct improvement 

 in many respects. Future editions might be still further improved 

 by a greater effort to simplify the style, which is unnecessarily lavish 

 in technical terms, and here and there somewhat involved in the 

 directions. However, when one considers the great difficulties that 

 attend this subject, and the demonstration of it in particular, there 

 is room for thankfulness that so much can be taught with such 

 simple means. Prof. MacDougall deserves hearty encouragement 

 in his enterprise, and success is certain to attend it. q^ -^^ 



BOOK-NOTES, NEWS, dc. 



The Bulletin of Miscellaneous Information issued in connection 

 with Kew Gardens, which has been for some months in abeyance, 

 is again being issued. In the instalment dated "April and May," 

 but really published towards the end of June, Mr. J. G. Baker con- 

 tinues the "Diagnoses Africanje " for the orders OleacecB and 

 LoffaniacecB. It is to be regretted that more cai*e has not been 

 taken to consult existing literature. The plant (Welwitsch no. 926) 

 on which Mr. Baker founds his Jasminnm hrevipes is cited by 

 Knoblauch {Bot. Jahrh. xvii. 536 (1893) ) for his J. ternum. Stri/chnos 

 subscandens Baker (Welw. 6018) and S. mirrocarpa Baker (Welw. 

 4765) are cited by Gilg (op. cit. 573) as types of his 8. Welnitschii, 

 and are undoubtedly identical. S. xerophila Baker = S. Unf/uacha 

 firandifolia Gilg (/. c. 564), Schweinfurth 1719 being cited for both. 

 It can hardly be the case that the important papers in the Jahrbuch, 

 containing descriptions of numerous new species, have been over- 

 looked, but it would seem that their contents have been imperfectly 

 appreciated. 



The sixth Annual Keport of the Missouri Botanical Garden 

 "differs from those which preceded it in the omission of the section 

 comprising the annual flower sermon and the proceedings at the 

 two annual banquets instituted by Mr. Shaw." We congratulate 

 the Director, Prof. Trelease, on this alteration, which we are vain 

 enough to think may be in some measure due to our repeated 

 protests against the disfigurement of these handsome and useful 

 volumes by the inclusion of matters which could hardly be con- 

 sidered as of even temporary interest. This Eeport contains a 

 Revision of N. American Sagittaria, by Jared G. Smith, with 

 29 plates ; a study of Leitneria florida, by Prof. Trelease, with 

 15 plates ; studies on the dissemination and leaf reflexion of 

 Yucca, by Herbert J. Webber, with 3 plates ; and one or two 

 smaller papers. The priutinjr, paper, and general get-up of these 

 volumes leave nothins; to be desired. 



