1892. } Current Literature. 129 
proper backing can be secured, moral and financial, they think that a 
botanical congress can be made highly successful in all respects. The 
greatest difficulty which they have met so far has been — your indiffer- 
ence. 
ANOTHER MATTER of great interest to botanical science is the pro- 
posed division of section F of the A. A. A. S. This proposal the Ga- 
Feason to change our minds. Editorially and through the letter of 
Dr. Halsted, we have endeavored to find out how others regarded the 
Proposition, but we have been unable to extract a single opinion, pro 
orcon. So far as expression of their sentiments is concerned, the 
botanists might as well be dead ! 
CURRENT LITERATURE. 
A manual of grasses.? 
The study of the grasses of the United States has long been one of 
the Special functions of the Botanical Division of the Department of 
Agriculture, and a vast amount of material has been accumulated in 
the National Herbarium. For many years Dr. George Vasey has been 
making this great collection of grasses his special care, and his various 
Papers from time to time have testified to his critical study. It has 
been felt fora number of years that he should put the results of his labors 
om the National Herbarium ” opens with the first part of a “ Mono- 
ns the Grasses of the United States and British America.” The 
nd part, completing the monograph, is promised in a few months. 
© Monograph is in regular manual style, with suitable keys, and a 
of 2 
“la ‘pas ican grasses, and the monograph will undoubtedly 
Seon wader Study of this very important and very critical group. 
ht, as well as the Botanist, is to be congratulated upon 
ney and material in rendering service to the botani- 
- » 4S well as to purely agricultural interests. 
Vas = 
eSeagel Dr. GE0.—Monograph of the Grasses of the United States and British 
Contributions from the U. S. National Herbarium, Vol. III, No. 1, 
Issued, Feb. 25, 1892. Government Printing Office, Washington. 
PP. xiy, 89, 
