CURRENT LITERATURE. 
The Flora of Nebraska. 
The members of the botanical seminar of the University of Ne- 
braska have undertaken not only a botanical survey of the state, but 
have begun the publication of a flora on an elaborate and costly plan. 
The first two parts of the twenty-five promised have recently been 
issued and are an earnest of a most admirable work. The brief intro-. 
duction prepared by Dr. C. E. Bessey (who, we doubt not, is the in- 
spiration of the undertaking) gives an account of the principles of 
classification of the vegetable kingdom. The first part, embracing 
Sixty-eight pages and twenty-two plates has been prepared chiefly by 
Mr. De Alton Saunders, who describes the green plants belonging to 
the Protophyta and Phycophyta; while Messrs. Roscoe Pound and 
Frederick R. Clements describe the fungi of these groups. The sec- 
ond part, on the Coleochaetacez: and Characeze, has been done by 
a Albert F. Woods, and consists of nine pages of text with fourteen 
Plates, 
Of the accuracy of this work only a specialist can judge and we do - 
hot undertake to pronounce upon it; but however many slips there 
may be, or however crude the critical work may be, it can hardly be 
doubted that the publication will be of great value in making known 
the A ra of the state not only to those outside it but much more to 
those inside it. ‘That it begins with the plants it does (or even treats 
Mm at all) will be a revelation to many a teacher, who thinks of these 
4 plants to be sure, but hardly as plants which can be described, much 
q ‘ss identified, by ordinary mortals. 
__ Aword of commendation should be said for the plates. The draw- 
1B €ngraving and printing are all excellent and they contribute much 
0 the value of the work. Not all the species. are represented of 
| No principle of selection is stated and we are unable to wee 
at it is beyond that of figuring at least one species of ee 
then 5° Many of the species are thus shown that the plates add im- 
Mensely to the helpfulness of the text. pa ee, aac: 
te ®braska is in peculiar need of a local flora, since it lies at the J cd 
"Flora of Nebraska. Edited by the members of the botanical — shay 
4to. Introduction, by Charles E. Bessey- : 
hyta- a pl. 1-22. Part 2, 
ho hycophyta, by De Alton Saunders, pp. 1-68 § pl. 23-36. Lin- 
$ OOo, 
Cover wh 
