18 BOTANICAL GAZETTE. [ Jan., 
In the specimens of Ludwigia palustris, dried to exhibit with this 
communication to th d ny? ingle capsule only exam- 
ination, projected the seed into his face while the capsule was being 
examined with a lens, indicating a projecting power not before known 
to exist in the species—T. M. 
The Square Bamboo.—Some of our readers may remember an article 
in Nature, for August 27,1885, giving some account of the square-stemmed 
bamboo, which has recently been brought to light by Dr. Macgowan, who 
sent a notice of it. and also some living plants, to Kew. It appears to be 
a veritable species and not a monstrosity. Most of what is known about 
it is recorded by Dr. Macgowan, a medical missionary who has long lived 
in China, in the Chinese Recorder, April, 1885 and 1886. “It grows wild 
in the north-eastern portion of Yunnan, on the sequestered mountains.” 
Dr. Macgowan last summer sent a. beautiful cane made of it, with silver 
mounting, on which the name of Gray is inscribed in Chinese characters, 
and the interesting present reached the botanist to whom it was pre- 
sented on the morning of his seventy-sixth birthday. 
y, cut across for 
EDITORIAL. 
Tue Boranicat GAZETTE extends its best wishes to botanists for the 
new year and expects to record a year of unusual activity among American 
botanists. It is a time for good resolutions, and botanists should not be 
behind in this matter. The GazerrE has made more good resolutions 
than ever before, but to carry them all out must depend in a large meas- 
ure upon the hearty co-operation of fellow workers. The various asso- 
ciations of this country and our botanical periodicals have brought us 
together in a compactness of organization and friendliness of feeling that 
is the promise of great things. The resolution we would like to have 
each botanist make with the new year is to do some good work and see 
to it that none of it goes unrecorded. Our various departments furnish 
ample room for all forms of communication, large or small, formal or 
informal, and we want botanists to use them. We will try to keep our 
readers abreast of the work in this and other countries, but we want their 
€o-operation in every direction. We would call attention to the depart- 
ment of “Notes and News,” and ask all botanists to send us any un: 
published scraps of information they may meet concerning the work 
or movements of botanists. Among “Open Letters” we would give place 
to any expressions of opinion, or any discussion that may be of general 
interest. In short, we welcome all botanists to all departments of the 
GAZETTE, excepting the editorial, and even that can be freely discussed in 
any must feel absolute freedom in applying for space, and no one need 
complain of a failure to obtain a reasonable hearing, 
Git et eS 
Si a aw meena ote 
