212 BOTANICAL GAZETTE [MARCH 
investigators agree in almost every particular regarding the disease, so that 
the main facts may be considered as thoroughly established, having been 
worked out independently by two competent observers. 
It is rather unfortunate, however, that time should be spent in duplicating 
work, when there is so much to be done. In this particular case, certainly 
courtesy, not to say economy, demanded that investigation of the disease 
should not be assumed by the national department, but rather that the work 
should be left in the hands of the state experiment station, which had 
thoroughly trained observer already engaged upon it. In 1895 Dr. Russell 
presented to the Springfield meeting of the A. A. A. S.a brief preliminary 
note on ‘A leaf rot of cabbage,” for the purpose of eliciting information it 
regard to the disease. In this he alludes to certain striking symptoms which 
serve to identify the disease. His studies were continued in 1896, in the 
autumn of which year Dr. Smith began his investigation. Scarcely had be 
begun when he knew Dr. Russell was not only continuing his studies, but had 
been appealed to by the cabbage growers of Racine, Wis., to find out the 
cause of their serious losses. The material on which Dr. Smith’s first studi 
were based was sent to him from that locality. While there is no civil aif 
which compels the U. S. Department of Agriculture to keep out of, or with 
draw even from work previously undertaken by a state experiment station, 
there is a law of courtesy which demands it, and Dr. Smith would have done 
well to heed it.—C, R. B, : 
NOTES FOR STUDENTS. 
ITEMS OF TAXONOMIC INTEREST are as follows: Marshall A. ee 
published a revision of the Anthocerotacez of North America, pee : 
Species of Anthoceros (three of which are new), and two species of peer ce 
Six handsome plates accompany the paper. Anna M. Vail ® has pu pes . 
revision of the genus Acerates in the United States, recognizing seven °° 
THE RECENT DISCOVERY of spermatozoids in Cycas and gare 
renewed interest to the study of the Cycadacee. Dr. D. H. “5 the sue 
covered in the peduncles of Stangeria and some other cy 
© 
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° 
& 
K 
a 
aS 
a 
= 
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— 
°The anatomical characters p 
Bot. rr: 399-420. 1897, 
o ek. 
resented by the peduncle of Cycadace? 
