354 THE JOURNAL OF BOTANY 



Mosses, and, after dealing with their structure and giving directions 

 for their collection, examination, &c., comes to their classification, 

 the system followed being that of Limpricht's Laubmoose. A useful 

 key is provided for each genus. In the case of Sphagnum the points 

 of the key are illustrated by figures on a special plate. The de- 

 scriptions of the species and subspecies are short, and probably 

 adequate ; and the geographical distribution is made clear. The 

 colouring of the plates is tolerably good, and the work will be a 

 great boon to the inexpert. 



A CORRESPONDENT scuds US the following extract from an article 

 entitled "A Week's Tramp in the Pennines," contributed by a 

 schoolmaster to the Boys' Oivn Paper (Aug. 17): — "I had promised 

 a London friend I would procure him a few samples of the genus 

 Erica. I managed to gather some fine specimens of E. tetralix, 

 E. vaga7is, E. ciliaris and E. vulgaris, which I mounted. ... I may 

 here observe without any show of egotism that these specimens 

 have been used in class teaching in one of the largest Board schools 

 in London during the past three years." Our correspondent adds : 

 " The above plants are stated to have been gathered near Market 

 Brough ; the lists of insects and ferns collected are equally startling. 

 If the other subjects taught in the ' largest Board schools in 

 London ' are treated in as original a manner as topographical 

 Botany, the scholars are likely to be led as far astray as the above 

 Heaths, the Maidenhair at Bowes, or the ' Camberwell Beauty ' on 

 the fell sides." 



A NEW part of the Flora of Tropical Africa (vol. viii. part 2), 

 issued last month, contains the Lemnacea, Restiacece, EriocaulecB, 

 and conclusion of the AroidecB, by Mr. N. E. Brown ; the NaiadacecB, 

 by Mr. Arthur Bennett ; the AlismacecB, by Mr. C. H. Wright. The 

 greater portion is occupied by the Cyperacem (not completed in the 

 part), by Mr. C. B. Clarke. We are glad to learn that the obstacle 

 which has prevented the publication of vol. iv. has been removed, 

 and that that volume is in active progress. 



Mr. W. H. Pearson's Hepatica of the British Isles is making 

 steady progress ; the last part brings the text down to Ccesia, and 

 the number of plates to 176. It is much to be regretted that the 

 date of issue of the parts is not printed on the wrapper of each ; 

 this is a matter for the publisher rather than the author, but the 

 latter, who must know its importance, ought to see that it is given. 



The Twelfth Report of the Missouri Botanical Garden is mainly 

 occupied by a very careful study of " Garden Beans cultivated as 

 Esculents," by Mr. H. C. Irish ; this is illustrated by ten excellent 

 plates. The principal paper of strictly botanical interest is that on 

 •' Crotons of the United States," by Mr. A. M. Ferguson, to which 

 twenty-seven carefully-executed plates are devoted. A new Agave 

 [A. Treleasei Tourney) and a new Palmetto [Sabal Uresana Trelease) 

 are described and figured. The get-up of the volume is, as usual, 

 admirable. 



The Kew Bulletin has resumed publication, after a lapse of 

 nearly two years. The number for November and December, 1899, 



