40 BOTANICAL GAZETTE, [ Feb. 
mus. In 1866 he published his Jcones Euphorbiarum, containing 120 folio 
plates. His great work was the Flora Orientalis (1867 to 1884), in five octavo 
volumes, embracing a region extending from Greece and Turkey to the first 
cataracts in Egypt, and eastward to the borders of India. The work was en- 
tirely completed, and at the time of his death he wes preparing a supplement- 
y volume containing recent discoveries. 
was a great traveler, visiting Europe from Norway to Spain and the 
Crimea, and also much of the East. His last trip was to Spain in 1881, his 
eighth visit, his first botanical trip having been to the same region more than 
forty years before. And so the older botanists, the pioneers, are gradually de- 
parting, but their names will always be familiar to us as we endeavor to build 
a superstructure worthy of the foundation they have laid so well.—J. M. C. 
Sections of native woods.—Probably the most en collection of our 
native woods is the magnificent series in the American Museum in Central 
Park, New York City, known as the “Jesup da tivetica” The amount of money 
expended in gathering this collection was not less than $150,000. Truncheons 
from this collection, which was carefully named by Dr. Charles S. Sargent, 
have been placed in the hands of Mr. Charles W. Spurr, of Boston, a well- 
known manufacturer of veneers, who has cut from them a few sets of thin sec- 
tions which are now offered for sale 
These sets are certainly unique. Each represents about 200 species of 
native trees. Where the nature of the wood has permitted, transverse, tangential 
and radial sections have been cut of each. These sections vary in thickness 
according to the grain and character of the block from one one-hundredth to 
one two hundred and fiftieth of an inch. Each section is placed between thin 
sheets of mica, and mounted in flexible wood frames. Each frame consists of 
two layers of curled maple veneer backed by strong paper, and varnished with 
shellac, On the frame is printed the name of the individual or institution 
purchasing the set, a number corresponding to the specific name in Sargent’s 
Woods of the Jesup Collection, the scientific name in full, the common name, the 
direction of the section and the name of the preparer. 
One can hardly realize the time and patience represented by this work. 
sections were cut with a 3-ton veneer-machine, which had to be adjusted 
same piece. In all nearly 18,000 separate sections had to be handled and laid 
carefully between blotting paper. Add to this the preparation of the woods 
for vegans the care necessary to prevent ‘nibinds the sections from the num- 
runcheons, the making, finishing and printing of the frames, and the 
separa of the sections, and we have a truly appalling amount of work. No 
such series has ever before been made and probably no one else will ever have 
opportunity or patience to prepare another. The sections prepared and mounted 
as they are, are exceedingly valuable for the study of the nature and character 
of the various native woods. These sets, by reason of their completeness, ac- 
curate naming, elegant and durable mounting, are unequaled, and a rare op- 
portunity is thus offered to educational institutions which they ought not to 
be slow to avail themselves of. The price is certainly very reasonable. 
