1897 | CURRENT LITERATURE 297 
of the genus Echinopepon and its allies, a number of new species being 
synopsis of Drymaria nodosa and its allies; and Descriptions of miscel- 
laneous new species, thirty-five in number, and with numerous illustrations.— 
Be hs 
Mr. CHAs. RICHARDS DODGE‘ has published the results of his long 
investigations among useful fibers. It is an enumeration of 1018 species of 
useful fiber plants, the more important of which are fully described and 
treated from the botanical, agricultural, and industrial standpoints. It is 
much more than a list of commercial species, for it is especially interesting in 
its presentation of the native fibers. The aboriginal American fibers have 
never before been brought together in such a complete way. The contribu- 
tion is a great compendium of useful knowledge, to secure which Mr. Dodge 
has enjoyed special facilities. He is to be thanked for a very valuable con- 
tribution to the literature of economic botany.—]J. M. C. 
NOTES FOR STUDENTS. 
A NEW AUXANOMETER is described by L. C. Corbett in the ninth annual 
report of the West Virginia Experiment Station for 1896. It is a lever 
istrument recording by pen upon a slowly revolving drum. The plant is 
attached to the short arm of the lever by platinum wire. 
Other topics treated by the same writer are the greater vigor of northern 
8rown seeds, bulbs, and cuttings, demonstrated by a large number of experi- 
ments; the behavior of cuttings, especially from tuber producing p sae 
the injuries due to forest fires. 
In the same report A. D. Hopkins discusses the life zones of West Vir- 
§inia and the distribution of trees. The Canadian, transition, and upper 
austral zones can be traced, although the three marked areas of spruce, pine, 
and hard wood forests do not coincide with them. Three maps accompany 
the paper.—J. C. A. 
RECENT BULLETINS from the experiment stations contain botanical mat- 
ter of interest as follows: A. S. Hitchcock (Kas. no. 66, pp. 19-54) pre- 
sents the fourth bulletin in a series on Kansas weeds, assisted by George L. 
Clothier, It is devoted to the fruits and seeds, including a description and 
illustration of each of the 209 species embraced in the list. The plates are 
Donce, CHARLES RICHARDS.—A descriptive catalogue of useful fiber plants of 
4 
prstages including the structural and economic classification of fibers. Report no 
°%U.S, Department of Agriculture. Fiber investigations. Pp. 361. FI. 1-12. 1897. 
