224 BOTAXICAL NEWS. 



Farlow, of Harvard University, of our knowledge of the potato 

 disease, in plain language suited to the apprehension of farmers, for 

 whom his paper is intended. The erroneous views prevalent as to the 

 disease are clearly set aside, and the nature and action of Peronospora 

 infestans stated. Dr. Farlow does not expect to find the oospores in 

 the potato plant, for if they existed there it is not likely they 

 could have escaped the search of so many, skilful observers. He 

 is more hopeful in the prospect of discovering them on a different 

 plant from the potato, and he looks to the investigations now being 

 prosecuted by Prof. De Bary, at the suggestion of the Royal Agricul- 

 tural Society of England, as likely to lead to important results. Dr. 

 Farlow further suggests that the farmers of America should institute 

 a series of observations in the same direction as those recently 

 published in the Royal Agricultural Society's Journal, with the view 

 of supplementing the interesting facts recorded there, the value of 

 which he fully appreciates. 



J. D. Moller, of Wedel, in Holstein, contemplates the publication 

 of a book on the preparation of the Diatomacece, with illustrations. 

 The price of the English edition is fixed at £1 12s., and orders may 

 be sent to A. J. Beck, 31, Cornhill, London. 



The post of ** Assistant to the Director of the Royal Gardens, 

 Kew," has been revived, and Prof. W. T. Thiselton Dyer has been 

 appointed to it. Prof. Dyer has been for some time private secretary 

 to the Director, and brings to the multifarious duties of the office 

 abundance of energy and administrative ability acquired in the various 

 official positions he has at different times held. The salary attached 

 to the post is, we understand, £500 a year. 



The anniversary meeting of the Linnean Society was held on the 

 afternoon of May 24th, when the president, Prof. Allman, gave a 

 valuable address on the structure and life history of the Infusoria, em- 

 bodying also the recent researches of foreign zoologists. There was a 

 very large attendance of Fellows. At the same meeting Mr. Gwyn 

 Jeffreys was elected treasurer in the place of the late Daniel Hanbury. 

 Some changes have been recently effected. One of the spacious and 

 handsome rooms has been opened as a reading-room, in addition to the 

 fine library, and here the periodicals received by the society are laid 

 out for consultation by the Fellows. Round this apartment are placed 

 the type herbarium of Wallich's Indian plants and Sir James 

 Smith's general herbarium, as well as the British herbarium. Both 

 rooms are open till 6 p.m. We have been often surprised 

 that so little seems to be known by English collectors of this 

 last herbarium. It contains plants from Withering, Winch, 

 Bell-Salter, Dickson, and Don, besides many other botanists, and 

 "Ought to be always consulted (as well as the more extensive one at 

 the British Museum) by the compilers of local Floras. We under- 

 stand that arrangements for the further convenience of the 

 Fellows are in progi-ess, the council being anxious to make these 

 rooms a centre for naturalists in London, for which their position and 

 character very well fit them. 



We are glad to see that Bedford has started a Natural History 

 Society and Field Club. About thirty gentlemen have already joined, 

 including some active naturalists. Mr. Elger, F.R.A.S., has been 

 appointed secretary to the new club, which intends to hold two meet- 

 ings each month. 



