122 The Botanical Gazette. [April. 



> the cup of hot water and low power microscope. It is a poor and 



meager specimen, indeed, from which such little bits as are required 

 for this purpose can not be taken without injury, but even this will be 

 obviated when collectors learn to preserve surplus flowers, fruits, etc., 

 for subsequent dissection. 



Much has been said, one time and another, about the convenience 

 of loose material for study, with the implication that mounted material 



. vvas inconvenient just in proportion to the security of the attachment 

 to the herbarium sheet. For my own part I avoid, as much as possible, 

 handling loose specimens, and for study prefer things securely mounted. 

 My mind is then relieved of any undercurrent of care lest labels or 

 specimens get misplaced, I find open spaces left on the sheet for any 

 sketches or analyses that I may care to make, and the identical fragment 



' had under examination can be placed in a pocket alongside to attest 

 the accuracy of the drawing. Notes can be written down and all this 

 will remain while the sheet lasts as certainly appertaining to the very 

 specimen made the subject of study. 1 can go so far as to mark with 

 a little X the precise spot in head, spike, ament or what not, from 

 which 1 detached my fragment for examination. For effecting such 

 detachments with a minimum of injury to the specimen I use a tool 

 painfully suggestive of a dentist's outfit, but really of more agreeable 

 antecedents, a fine little chisel made by breaking off the hook of a 

 steel crochet needle and then sharpening the end to a crosswise edge, 

 the long handle gives-a firm hold, the cutting edge is very narrow and 

 with a steady thrust, under a lens, one may cut just the part desired 

 without bringing away, unintentionally, ten times" more than is wanted. 

 — M. S. Bkhb, Rockford, Ills. 



NOTES AND NEWS. 



Kk\ Francis Wtjllk's " Diatomaceae of North America" has just 

 been issued. It contains 2300 figures and 112 plates. 



lx mAWf Ledger (Feb. 19) of Philadelphia Mr. Thos. Meehan 

 has published a long and interesting account of Rafieesque. 



In the article of Dr. Homer Bowers on Hydrastis Canadensis, which 

 appeared in the March number, the following corrections should be 

 made: p 76, 9 th line from bottom, "inclines" should read "inclined"; 

 p. 77. last fine, erase "not." This last is naturally a very important 



■ orreetion. 



Wisconsin Prof. 



/ -k t> o , aubence rrom the Universitv of Wisconsin Pror. 



Chas. K. Barnes mil spend the time from April to September at Cam- 



SSfiS as / - i,u l ** he (ir av Herbarium. It is the intention of the 

 director. Dr. bereno Watson, to have the important bryological collec- 

 10ns rendered available to students as soon as possible. The initia- 

 tion of this work together with the revision of the Field Forest and 

 Garden botany which is in progress, will occupy Prof. Karnes' time. 



Correspondents will please note the change of address 



