280 BOTANICAL GAZETTE [OCTOBER 
to another alkaloid. It is considered not at all impossible that the alkaloid 
is formed by direct synthesis, and not as a decomposition product of pro- 
teids.—C. R. B. 
A SMALL PAMPHLET by W. Johannsen presents an account in popular 
form of a process which has already attained considerable use in forcing: 
houses. The method, which extraordinarily hastens the development of 
shoots and flowers, consists in exposing dormant plants in a suitable chamber 
twice to ether vapor for 24-72 (mostly 48) hours, with 48 hours interval, the 
time depending on the temperature and phase of the resting period. 
first section, “Zur Orientirung iiber die Ruheperiod,’”’ has con- 
siderable theoretical interest. The author defines clearly the expression 
“resting period,” and shows the erroneousness of the common idea t 
the riper the wood or seed of a plant is, the easier will be the budding * 
sprouting. He points out that the resting period has no sharp limits, but is 
a passage from diminished power of growth through complete rest to 
increased power of growth again. 
In the second section detailed directions are given for the practice, 
is especially applicable to syringas, azaleas, snowball, spireas, deutzia, 
the valley, and tulips.—C. R. B 
which 
lily of 
THE FIELD CoLUMBIAN Museum has recently come into possession of a 
set of plants collected by Don José Blain on the Isle of Pines, Cuba, some 
time in the middle of the sixties. The list, including 185 numbers, — 
which are four new species (Polyga/a, Salacia, Spigelia, and Heliotropium) 
has appeared as one of the publications of the museum (1:425~439 1900) 
under the title “Plantae Insulae Ananasensis,” by Charles F. Millspaugh, 
title “Plantae Utowanae’(Field Columb. Mus. Bot. a: 113-135- 1900) 
which he reconsiders the Cyperacee and Cakile of the former ne 
GAZ. 29:360. 1900). The present paper takes up the two groups | fe 
form to be used in the proposed Yucatan Flora, in which all of the spe a 
descriptions are to be based upon the characters of the fruits, and — a 
by text cuts illustrating these characters. Dr. Millspaugh differs ON 
Clarke in regarding Mariscus and Torulinium as but sections of aie q 
Cyperus (Mariscus) Caymanensis is described as a new species. In | 
ten species are recognized, two of which are new; also two n 
described. The author makes the very interesting observation th nee 
has laid special stress upon the development of the fruit for disse ae in the q 
and that the “evolution for floatage seems to have reached its height "" 
new species growing upon the Alacran shoals.’’ — J. M. C. — 
9JOHANNSEN, W.: Das Aether-Verfahren beim Frithtreiben me eee ’ 
ote cartailagad der Fliedertreiberei. 8vo., pp. 28, #5: # jena : : 
900. fy, ; 
