TS ASE RSS eA i 
er 
1898 ] CURRENT LITERATURE 289 
terized by a relatively greater uniformity of light intensity than is attained in 
any other vegetation region. This great uniformity expresses itself first in 
the low maxima and the high minima of the intensity of the total daylight, 
which again is dependent upon the course of the daily position of the sun, 
The daylight totals rise from spring to summer in the high Arctic regions 
much more slowly, and fall from summer to autumn much more slowly, than 
in temperate latitudes. Besides, the intensity of the direct light (Vorder/icht) 
in the north is nearer to that of the sky light (Oderdich¢) than in other 
regions. The strength of the light, with complete cloudiness, increases with 
increasing elevation of the sun in no other region so uniformly as in the 
Arctic. Finally, the fact that the midnights of the north are most strongly, 
and those of the south most weakly, illuminated contributes to the uniformity 
of light intensity. : 
‘“‘g, The observations made at Advent bay establish the point already 
made by the author, that the share of the total light which plants obtain is 
greater the smaller the intensity of the total light is; of course, except in 
those regions in which the rays of the sun actually retard the development of 
plants (steppes and deserts). The greatest amount of the total light is 
light excludes any self-shading of plants (z. ¢., by their own leaves) in 
extreme northern regions, and in the neighboring southern regions (¢. g., in 
Hammerfest) only a minimal (physiological) branching of woody plants is 
possible.” 
A later memoir will concern itself with the connection of the climate thu 
described with the character of the vegetation.—C. R. B 
analogy in the culture of molds. Mr. Susuki’s full paper will be published 
in the bulletin of the Agricultural College of Tokyo.—C. R. B. 
IN GENERAL STYLE, Mr. F. N. Williams’ recently issued Revision of the 
genus Arenaria® is not unlike his synoptic treatment of Silene, already 
noticed in these pages. Arenaria, however, is from its nature capable of 
more satisfactory division into subgenera and sections than Silene, and Mr. 
Williams seems also to have made a somewhat more detailed statement of 
the minor varieties and forms than in his earlier paper. He limits the _ aioe 
Arenaria to the species which have estrophiolate seeds and divided or biden- 
tate capsule-valves, thereby ‘excluding Alsine, Mcehringia, Honkenya, etc. 
But, even as thus restricted, Arenaria includes the following reduced eid 
Alsinella S. F. Gray, Bigelowia Raf., Brachystemma Don, Brewerina A. 
*Journal of Linnean Society 33 : 326-437. 1898. 
