456 BOTANICAL GAZETTE [DECEMBER 1898 
PROFESSOR Dr. G. LEIMBACH, the editor of the Deutsche botanische 
Monatsschrift, announces that, at the end of the year, the journal again comes 
into his possession as publisher. It will be published as heretofore at 1/6 
peryear. The office of publication is at Arnstadt, Thiiringia. 
THE Deutsche botanische Monatsschrift announces in its October number | 
(received late in November) that a most annoying delay has occurred in the 
issue of the Ascherson-Grabner Synopsis of the flora of central Europe. No 
explanation is given, but the Monatsschrift is authorized to say that, at all 
events, no additional part is to be issued this year. 
Mr. W. T. SWINGLE has been commissioned by the United States Depart- 
ment of Agriculture to investigate the agriculture of the countries in 
Europe, Asia, and Africa which border on the Mediterranean. He is to study 
the plants cultivated and the methods of culture, in the hope of discovering 
plants which may be introduced to advantage into America. The work is to 
be done under Mr. Fairchild’s section of seed and plant introduction, and 
will occupy about six months, after which Mr. Swingle will return to America. 
During his absence letters may be addressed in care of Thomas Cook & Son, 
Ludgate Circus, London, E. C. 
Mr. D. G. FaIRcHILD, formerly special agent in charge of the section of 
seed and plant introduction, U. S. Department of Agriculture, has been 
assigned, at his own request, to duty as an agricultural explorer. He will 
visit both coasts of South America, in company with Mr. Barbour Lathrop, of 
Chicago, to investigate the economic plants of those regions and import stock 
of the more promising sorts into the United States. Mr. O. F. Cook, formerly 
Liberian agent of the New York Colonization Society and director of the 
college and the coffee experiment farm near Monrovia, has been appointed 
to take charge of the seed and plant introduction work, under the direction of 
the botanist of the department. 
Dr. C. F. MituspauGn, of the Field Columbian Museum, is to leave 
New York about December 20 for the West Indies, where he will spend the ~ 
winter months in botanical exploration. He is a guest upon the private yacht 
of Mr. Allison Armour, which will be largely under his direction as to the 
ports visited. Ample arrangements have been made for rapid and complete 
collecting, the purpose being not to obtain duplicates, but to secure as com- 
plete a representation of the flora as possible. Mr. E, P. Allen, the photog- 
rapher of the museum, will also accompany the expedition, and will pay 
special attention to the general ecological features. 
The places to be visited are as follows: San Juan de Puerto Rico; San 
Domingo; Santiago de Cuba; islands of Grand Cayman, Little Cayman, and 
Cayman Brac; Isle of Pines; Cape Corientes ; islands of Cozumel, Mugeres 
and Holbox ; interior of Yucatan as far as Buena Vista Xbac and Chichea 
Itza; the Alacran Shoals ; and Havana. 
