424 The Botanical Gazette. [December, 
lithographs by Meisel, who undoubtedly does the best work in this 
line of any man in the country. : 
The descriptions are drawn up mostly by Mr. L. H. Dewey, an 
assistant botanist of the division. 
e have much commendation forthe work, and but two adverse 
criticisms. It is a pity that a fuller synonymy is not given, with criti- 
cal notes. The plates are valuable indeed; but their value would be 
much enhanced by such study, with in some cases more minute and 
thorough dissection of flowers. However if we cannot have a whole 
loaf we ought to give thanks for the half. 
The second criticism relates to purely mechanical details. The 
plates of the second part of the first volume were nearly ruined by 
close trimming and these are cut too close also. Why not leave edges 
uncut, so that one trimming when bound would suffice ? Such plates 
deserve a broad margin, rather than a “skimpy” one. 
A new publication. 
The botanical laboratory of the University of Pennsylvania begins a 
new serial entitled “Contributions from the botanical laboratory of 
the University of Pennsylvania.”! Several similar publications having 
come to our attention recently, together with propositions for the 
establishment of others, we are moved to give expression to our views 
in the editorial pages on the general advisability of such issues by 
educational institutions. 
This first number is admirably got up. The typography and paper 
is excellent and the plates are good. 
The longest paper is by Dr. Macfarlane on Dionza muscipula and 
is directed to a study of the irritability of the leaves. This is follow- 
ed by ashort paper on bud propagation in Dionza, which Mr. Harsh- 
berger found to occur occasionally in the inflorescence. There are two 
papers by Dr. Wilson, one on the dioecism and proportion of stam- 
inate and pistillate flowers in Epigzea repens; the other (with the assis- 
tance of Mr. Greenman) on the movements of the leaves of Melilotus _ 
alba and other plants. In these researches Dr. Wilson finds that 
Melilotus and many other plants have a “hot sun” position for their 
leaves which is dependent largely upon the heat rays and the water 
supply, since it is intended to protect plants from excessive evapora- 
tion. Dr. Rothrock has two short notes, one on a monstrous form of 
Rudbeckia hirta, and the other on a nascent variety of Brunella vul- 
garis. Finally there is a chemical paper on mangrove bark tannin 
by Dr. Trimble, who finds this tannin quite similar to that in horse- 
chestnut, tormentil and rhatany. sinc ti salamat 
*Philadelphia: Univ. of Pa. Press, 1892. vol. 1. no. 1. 8vo, pp. 73, Pl. 13- 
Eo 
