254 BOTANICAL NEWS. 



W. 0. Focke has published some important papers on exotic RuU, con- 

 sisting of revisions of the American, Australian, African, and Russian 

 species, with a general review of all the Asiatic forms, and characters 

 of the new species. Unlike their congeners in Europe, the Rubi of 

 these countries appear to be no more polymorphic than is usual with 

 the species of large genera, and to present none of the puzzling series 

 of closely allied forms which have afforded so much work to descrip- 

 tive botanists here. 



Mr. Fred. Stratton is publishing in the pages of the Hampshire 

 Independent^ a weekly newspaper, a seriesof articles on the WildFlowers 

 and Weeds of the Isle of Wight. The whole flora is being taken in 

 systematic order, short descriptions in plain language of each species 

 being given, with interesting local information. We are glad to learn 

 that the papers are attracting many readers, and hope they may lead 

 to further research. 



A new volume of Dr. J. T. Bos well's (late Syme) '' English 

 Botany" is advertised as in preparation. It will contain the Ferns, 

 Fern Allies, and some additional plants, together with a general Index 

 to the whole work. 



The State Botanic Gardens at Brussels have at length been placed 

 under proper scientific control, the President of the Committee of 

 Management being M. Du Mortier, the venerable leader of Belgian 

 botanists ; M. Dupont has been appointed Director, with M, Crepin 

 as his Secretary, and the whole institution is now consolidated into 

 an efficient botanical establishment. 



Mr. Worthington G. Smith has been awarded the Gold Knightian 

 Medal by the Council of the Royal Horticultural Society, '* as a reward 

 of merit for the skill and diligence displayed in the discovery of the 

 resting-spores of Feronospora infestans in the tuber of the potato." 

 His researches are referred to at page 242. 



The Cryptogamic Society of Scotland has arranged to hold a 

 Fungus Show and Conference of Cryptogamic Botanists at Perth, on 

 September 29th and 30th and October 1st. The first day is to be 

 devoted to Field Excursions, the second to examination and arrange- 

 ment of the specimens, with a *' fungus dinner," of course, in the 

 evening, and the last to a Show in the City Hall. Further informa- 

 tion may be obtained on application to the general secretary, Dr. 

 Buchanan White, Rannoch, Perthshire. 



We greatly regret to record the death of Gustave Thuret, which 

 happened at Kice, on May 10th. He was a profound Algologist, and 

 his papers display his powers of original research in a most conclu- 

 sive manner ; many of the most important advances in the know- 

 ledge of seaweeds are due to him. His garden at Antibes 

 was one of the sights of the place, and it is to be hoped means 

 will be taken to maintain it. We believe that the late Mr. Shuttle- 

 worth's herbarium and MS. Flora of the Riviera were inM. Thuret's 

 hands, with the object of the publication of the latter. 



We beg to call the attention of our readers to the Second Report of 

 the Civil Service Commissioners, which deals with the Scientific Depart- 

 ments, including the British and S. Kensington Museums, the Depart- 



