NEWS. 
Dr. GEORG KARSTEN, privatdocent in the University of Kiel, has been 
promoted to an associate professorship, 
Dr. GEORG KLERs, professor of botany and director of the botanic gar- 
dens at the University of Basel, has been appointed to the same position in 
the University of Halle. 
Dr. HENRY C. CowLEs, in charge of plant ecology at the University of 
Chicago, has had a field class of twelve at. vor for six weeks on North 
Manitou island, Lake Michigan. 
THE FIRST number of the new volume of the M/inmesota Botanical Studies 
appears in a new dress of very handsome type. This makes it one of the 
best printed of botanical publications. > 
Mr. A. A. HELLER has resigned his position at the University of Minne- 
sota, to give all his time to collecting. Correspondence in reference to the 
Exchange Bureau should be directed to Professor Conway Macmillan. 
THE DEATH is announced of Dr. Anton Kerner, Ritter von Marilaun, 
professor of systematic botany and director of the botanical gardens and 
museum of the University of Vienna. He is best known as the author of 
Pflanzenleben, of which a second edition is now in course of publication. 
The first edition was recently translated into English and published as Ze 
Natural History of Plants. 
PROFESSOR FERDINAND Conn, director of the institute for plant physi- 
ology of the University of Breslau, died on June 25 of heart disease, at the 
age of 70. He has been professor of botany at Breslau for almost forty 
years. His series of popular lectures, issued under the title Die Pflanze, 
went through several editions and were models of accurate and elegant pre- 
sentation. He was editor of the series of monographs entitled Beitrége zur 
Biologie der Pflanzen, which came to a close a few years ago. 
PROFESSOR Dr. SIMON SCHWENDENER, director of the botanical institute 
of the University of Berlin, has been made a knight of the order Pour le 
merite,in the class of science and art. This order was founded by Fred- 
erick the Great, as a mark of distinction for military service, but the statutes 
were revised in 1842 by Frederick William IV to include scientific men an 
artists of distinction. The latter class is limited to thirty Germans and the 
Same number of foreigners. The order is practically conferred by vote of 
the members. Schwendener is the only botanist thus honored. 
1898] 223 
