160 
It has been gratifying to find that these volumes have not 
merely served sentimental or collector’s interest, but are among 
the books most actively consulted for their contents. They are, of 
course, the foundational works of botanical and horticultural lit- 
erature, and must be accessible to anyone whose reading or re- 
searches lead to the early history of plant study, including subject 
matter, the development of scientific method, the history of plant 
nomenclature, the evolution of our modern botanical conceptions 
and principles, botanical biography, and iconography. In_ fact, 
some acquaintance with these books and their authors is abso- 
lutely essential for a first hand knowledge of the history of 
botany, and to enable one to consider the present status of botani- 
cal science in scholarly perspective. 
No gift to the Brooklyn Botanic Garden has ever met a more 
essential requirement. A larger endowment for the library is one 
of our present urgent needs.—-C. 5. G. 
INCUNABULA 
(15th Century Books) 
1. BARTHOLOMAEUS ANGLICUS. 
De Proprictibus rerum. Argentine, [Georg Husner] 1491. 
The earliest edition of this work, appearing about 1470, was the 
first printed book of plant interest. It was a standard work on 
natural history throughout the Middle Ages, including the entire 
held of scientific knowledge in that period. 
2. CoLuMELLA, [L.] J. M. 
[Hortuli commentarium|  [Rome, Bart. Guldinbeck, 1485 | 
The very rare first separate edition of Columella’s work, which 
consists of comments on the historical and legendary properties 
of various plants. 
3. [CRESCENZI, PIERO DE] 
| O pus ruralium commodo ui | [ Spier, P Drach, c1495 | 
Generally considered to be the most important treatise on agri- 
culture and gardening produced in the Middle Ages. 
