384 The Botanical Gazette. [ November, 
free publication of their proceedings, but the proposition has been 
rejected. 
To be sure, a committee has been appointed to arrange a program of 
subjects for next year’s meeting at Madison. But no enthusiasm has 
yet manifested itself. It is, however, certainly true that the circum- 
stances are particularly propitious for the largest,the most cosmopoli- 
tan, the most notable gathering in 1893 that botany has ever had in 
this country. There will be a nnmber of distinguished foreign specialists 
in attendance, and the fame and benefits of the convention will not 
be confined within our own geographical borders. 
If there is a single botanist, or any number of botanists, who has a 
suggestion, a word of encouragement to the committee, or any opinion 
regarding the project, now is the time to give it expression through 
the journals. Silence means apathy, but what is wanted is enthusiasm. 
CURRENT LITERATURE. 
Canadian Mosses.* 
The Catalogue of Canadian Plants has now reached the mosses. 
The list with its annotations and descriptions of new species makes an 
octavo pamphlet of nearly 300 pages. Mr. Macoun has been a most 
industrious collector and the Herbarium of the Geological Survey will 
need to be consulted now by every student of our moss flora. Since 
1861 he has been accumulating the material which is here elaborated. 
953 Species’ are listed, and numerous varieties, a considerably greater 
number than were included in 1884 in Lesquereux & James Manual 
for the whole of North America. 
It 1s unfortunate that Mr. Macoun was not more cautious in the 
choice of bryologists to work up these rich collections. Undoubtedly 
he has found many new species; but no one can believe that ar" out 
of 953 are previously undescribed! Both Kindberg, who has been his 
chief collaborator, and Miiller are looked upon by the best bryologists 
as too much inclined to establish species upon insufficient materia 
and slight differences (to put the case mildly). Indeed the catalogue 
itself bears abundant evidence of this tendency. aes 
iad comparison of the determinations of the centuries of Canadidl : 
2 Part 
viii, 
1892. 
*Macoun, Joun and Kinppere, N. C. —Catalogue of Canadian Plants. 
VI. ~ Musci, (Geological and Natural History Survey of Canada.) Svo. pP- 
fia ee printed for the government by W. F. Brown and Co. 
—25 cents. 
?Fide Mrs. E. G. Britton in Bud/. Torr. Bot. Club. 
