

Igor | CURRENT LITERATURE 135 
writes on the effects of fire on forest production, and on the plains, and adds 
some silvicultural notes on the white cedar. The last two topics are incor- 
porated in the present volume from former reports of the survey. 
y far the most useful part of the report from an ecologic standpoint is 
a paper discussing the relation between forestry and geology, by Dr. Hollick. 
This is a revision of a paper of the same title published in the January and 
F ‘ebruary (1899) numbers of the American Naturalist. \t contains a discus- 
the tension zone lies between these. Dr. Hollick draws the conclusion that 
“the coniferous zone is destined to be ultimately obliterated, or only to exist 
over limited areas, often’ for the negative reason that in such areas the con- 
ditions may not be favorable for other ty pes of vegetation.” 
In part three of the report John B. Smith treats of the réle of insects in 
the forest; and part four contains an article by John Gifford on the forestal 
conditions and silvicultural prospects of the coastal plain of the state, with 
remarks in reference to other regions. Other valuable features of the report 
are a large number of half-tone reproductions from photographs, and maps 
Showing geological formations, distribution of rainfall, and distribution of 
forest areas.— H. N. WHITFORD. 
ITEMS OF TAXONOMIC INTEREST are as follows: C. H. BIssELL (Rhodora 
2: 225. 1900) has described a new variety of Zézia aurea from Connecti- 
cut.—Two new genera of Hymenogasters have been described recently : 
Arcangeliella, by F. CAVARA (Nouvo Giorn. Bot. Ital. 7: 117-128. p27, 
1900), from the coniferous forests of Vallombrosa, Etruria; and Martedlia. 
by O. MartrroLo (Malpighia 14:39-110. AZ. 7. 1900), from Sicily.—L. 
PETRI (Malpighia 14: 111-139. pls. 2-g. 1900) has described a new genus 
of Gasteromycetes from Borneo, C/athro aster by name.—H. T. A. Hus 
(Zoe 5: 61-70. 1900) has published a preliminary synopsis of the west coast 
Species of Porphyra, recognizing thirteen species and varieties, four of which 
are described as new.—S. B. PARISH (idem, 71-76) has begun a series of 
papers entitled “Contributions to Southern California Botany,” the first con- 
taining new species or varieties under Sphacralcea, Gilia, Galium, Eupatorium, 
and Sidens.—T. S. BRANDEGEE (idem, 78-79) has described a new species of 
Tapirira from Lower California.— Miss ALICE Eastwoop (idem, 80-90) 
has described new Californian species under Sa/ix, Chrysopsis, Helianthella, 
Sphacele, Mimulus, Aphyllon, Asclepias, Cleomella, Peucedanum, and Nav- 
arretia.—C. L. POLLARD (Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington 13: 184. 1900) has 
described a new Helianthus (H. agrestis) from Florida.— SCRIBNER and 
MERRILL (Division of Agrostology, Circular 27, Dec. 4, 1900) have described 
