130 The Botanical Gazette. [Mareh, 
Thin wood sections. 
The usefulness of well prepared transparent sections of various kinds 
of woods for numerous instructive and illustrative purposes, is conceded 
by every one, and by no one more than by the person who has had the 
privilege of using them. About ten years ago Mr. Henry Brooks, of 
Boston issued a set of seventeen species of woods, each species repte- 
sented by three sections, a radial, a tangential and a transverse one, 
neatly mounted upon cards behind mica slips. Somewhat later a 
larger set, representing about 200 species of woods, mounted much in 
the same manner, was prepared by Charles W. Spurr, of Boston, undet 
the direction of Dr. C. S. Sargent, using material from the “Jesup 
collection” of the Central Park museum, New York. Onlya limited 
number of this set was issued. om 
There is now in course of publication a third set of wood sections. 
These are prepared and mounted in a similar manner to those of the 
preceding sets, except that mica facing is not used, and that a number 
of minor details are added to increase their usefulness. A new feature 
_ of much importance is a well arranged accompanying text. ; 
The author is Mr. Romeyn B. Hough, son of the late Franklin B. 
Hough, who was for some time U. S. Commissioner of Forestry, and 
throughout a long life was a student of our native ligneous flora, being 
the author of a treatise on the “Elements of Forestry,” and of mr 
merous other works of a kindred nature. The son has inherited 
father’s love of the forests, and he has entered into the preparation f 
the present work with the rich accumulations of information at han 
brought together by his father, and with a strong personal enthusiasm: 
he work is to be issued in parts of twenty-five species each, se 
part with a suitable text. The parts will appear as rapidly a 5 
can be prepared, and the whole work is expected to eventually ¢ 
brace all the most important woods of the United States. Two i 
are already issued. The price is five to ten dollars per part according 
to the style of binding. + 
The work has a scientific and economic interest, both of which n of 
; d ( 
handy 
altho 
mens 
‘ Hovcu, Romeyn B.— The American woods, exhibited by eager 8v0. 
and with copious explanatory text. Lowville, N. Y., pub. by the a0 ions 
Pt. T, 1888, PP. vii+79. figs. 42. 27 cards bearing three wood sect 
Pt. II, 1891. 
/ 
