1897 | NEWS 451 
series of mosses, lichens, and hepatics. Much of the success of the work is 
due to the activity and devotion of Professor F. S. Earle, and Mr. Carl F. 
Baker of the Alabama Polytechnic Institute and botanists of the survey. It 
is contemplated to offer sets of exsiccatae at about $7.00 per hundred, and 
also to make exchanges to some extent, in order to provide additional funds 
and material for the herbarium. 
GEBRUDER GOTTHELFT, of Cassel, announce the early publication of a 
new set of wall charts in five series: 1, physiology; 2, anatomy; 3, taxonomy 
and phylogeny; 4, morphology; 5, diseases. Dr. F. G. Kohl, professor of 
botany in the University of Marburg, will prepare the original drawings or 
select those of other authors to be reproduced. These will be largely from 
photographs. A larger size than usual, 85x115™ will allow the lines to be 
coarse enough to be seen in a large lecture hall. The price is to be reason- 
able, viz., 47 5 per chart, unmounted ; if mounted with rings and roller, J/ 2 
additional. Single charts may be purchased, or any series. Sample plates 
will be sent free on request. 
THE APPEARANCE of the Plant World justifies its announcement. Two 
numbers are now before us, and a statement of contents is the best sort of 
comment. The October number contains ‘“‘The sword moss,” by Mrs. E. G. 
Britton; “The families of flowering plants,” by Charles L. Pollard, the 
beginning of a series of articles; “Sensitiveness of the sundew,” by F. H 
Knowlton; “Ferns of the Yosemite and the neighboring Sierras,” by S. H. 
Burnham ; “Some sand-barren plants,”’ by Willard N. Clute. There is also 
an editorial department and one of “notes and news.” The November num- 
ber contains articles by F. H. Knowlton, Charles L. Pollard, A. A. Heller, 
Arthur Hollick, and W. J. Beal. We hope that the journal has ‘“‘come to 
as 
~ 
THE FOLLOWING reliable information about the cultivation of orris (/ris 
horentina L..) may be of interest, as it is of great importance to the perfumery 
industry and little has been known about it. The cultivation of this plant 
has been going on in Italy for two centuries. It is planted on hills and hill- 
sides, never in valleys; mostly on sunny clearings or lengthwise between 
rows of vines in vineyards, seldom in extensive fields. It grows only in dry 
stony ground. Once planted, the plants need no further care and are left 
undisturbed for two or three years. Then the gathering of the rhizomes com- 
. mences. Half the last joint is left on the living plant, which is replanted in 
_ hew ground at once or within a fortnight. The freshly cut rhizomes are first 
placed in water to facilitate peeling, after which they are dried in the sun. 
_ loo kilos of green rhizomes make 30-40 kilos of dried. The Tuscany dis- 
tricts will yield this year about 1,250,000 kilos.? 
3ScHIMMEL & Co., Semi-Annual Report Oct. 1897, p. 38. 
