NOTES AND NEWS. 
Dr. H. Mo.iscu has been called to the German University at Prag 
as professor of anatomy and physiology of plants and director of the 
physiological institute. 
THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE has issued a bulletin on “nut 
grass” (Cyperus rotundus), regarding which Mr. Dewey, assistant 
botanist, desires information 
THE ACADEMY OF SCIENCES at Berlin has appropriated 500 marks 
for the prosecution of the work of the International Commission for 
the reform of botanical nomenclature. 
Dr. Epwarp PaLMER has gone to Acapulco, Mexico, where he ex- 
pects to make a collection of plants. He goes at his own expense, 
but his plants will be named as heretofore by Mr. J. N. Rose of the De- 
partment of Agriculture. 
IN THE American Naturalist (August) Professor L. H. Bailey pub- - 
lishes a paper on “Neo-Lamarckism and Neo-Darwinism,” in w ic 
these varying schools are defined, and exceptions taken to Weismann's 
theory of the continuity of the germ-plasm, as well as his sweeping 
claims concerning acquired characters. 
Dr. HARSHBERGER’s note (p. 159) concerning Ra lus acris L. as 
being poisonous tellsanoldstory. In many places, beggars used to rub 
their hands with this plant, in order to make them sore and thus obtain 
alms. For this reason the Danish name of the plant is Tigger-Ranun- 
kel (beggar-r.). The Krautterbiicher and old floras know a great deal 
about this plant.—J. C. Bay. 
shoots and leaves caused by the Exoasci,” by W. G. Smith; and “The 
capacity of oak stumps for budding, and their infection by 4ga7¢#s 
melleus,” by Dr. Robert Hartig. 
Messrs. Frank S. Collins, William A. Setchell, and Isaac Hoist 
THE BeLcian Acapemy of Sciences at Brussels has of Lae 
tothe value of 600 francs for the best treatise on the following theme>: 
