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Botany of Juan Fernandez and Easter Island.*—The first part 
of the volume under consideration was noticed in the Kew 
Bulletin for 1921, p. 48. The present part contains four papers 
as follows :—‘‘ Die Gasteromyceten der Juan Fernandez und 
Osterinseln””’ by T. C. E. Fries, “‘ Freshwater Algae from Juan 
Fernandez and Easter Island” by K. Miinster Strém, and two 
papers by Dr. Skottsberg dealing with the Phanerogams of 
Easter Island and Juan Fernandez respectively. 
The flora of Easter Island is poor. Skottsberg records 
30 species of native Phanerogams, 12 for the first time. Four are 
considered to be endemic, and three represent an American 
element; the majority, 23, are Australian and Polynesian. 
The Phanerogams considered indigenous to Juan Fernandez 
number 142. In his two visits to the islands Dr. Skottsberg 
has added 41 species not previously recorded, 31 of these being 
listed in the present paper for the first time. The peculiar nature 
of the Juan Fernandez flora is well brought out by the following 
figures. Of the genera, 81 in number, 10 are endemic, and 
Lactoris is the type of a separate order. Of the 142 species 98, 
or 69 per cent. are endemic. There is a marked floristic difference 
between the floras of the two chief islands, Masatierra and 
Masafuera. 
It is pointed out that many of the endemic types are extremely 
scarce and it is suggested that the leading scientific circles of 
the world might well join in an action for the protection of Juan 
Fernandez. Goats and the spread of “‘ maqui,’’ Aristotelia maqut, 
are the worst causes of the reduction of the indigenous vegetation. 
Dr. Skottsberg’s valuable contributions to taxonomic and 
geographical botany are enhanced by his careful references to 
exact localities and dates of collecting. Many valuable discussions 
regarding systematic points are to be found in the text and are 
often illustrated by clear text-figures and plates. 
Wa: Bi 
Agricultural News.—In the issue of March 18, 1922, of this 
well-known publication of the Imperial Department of Agri- 
culture for the West Indies, it is announced “ that consequent 
on the amalgamation of the Imperial Department of Agriculture 
with the West Indian Agricultural College, and pending a recon- 
sideration of West Indian requirements in respect of agricultural 
literature, the publication of this Journal will cease as from 
March 31 of the current year.” It is further announced that the 
present number (for March 18) is the last that will be issued. 
There is cause for regret that this useful fortnightly review, 
which was founded in April 1902 by Sir Daniel Morris, the first 
Commissioner of the Imperial Department of Agriculture for the 
West Indies, has thus come to an end. From first to last it has 
been published at one penny each number, and must have proved 
* The Nat istory of Juan Fernandez and Easter Island, edited 
by Dr. Carl eobeey. Vol. IL., Botany, Part ii. Uppsala 1922, Almqvist 
and Wilsselis. 
