1900] BRIEFER ARTICLES 65 
regular botanical journal under competent management, with a numer- 
ous staff of editors, than to depend on a general international scientific 
catalogue, whether issued in the form of cards or printed sheets to be 
bound together. Just’s /ahresbericht is probably as good a work as is 
practically possible except in the delay of publication, which probably 
might be reduced by skillful management so that it would be only a 
year behind the time. Ina journal which should have for its sole 
object the publication of notices of current literature, the delay of a 
year would be fatal; but, in order that the notices might be up to date, 
it is plain that it would not be possible to treat the material with the 
same thoroughness and completeness as in Just’s Jahresbertcht, where 
time is taken to digest it thoroughly. In the case of a journal review- 
_ ing current literature we can only ask that the notices shall appear as 
quickly as possible and that the whole ground shall be covered as far as 
is practically possible, expecting that some works will escape notice at 
the time. 
The form of journal which it seems to me is best adapted for the pur- 
pose is something like that of the Botanisches Centra/lblatt, and the 
question arises, would it be possible to transform that journal so thatit 
might become a satisfactory organ to be accepted by all botanists as 
the standard record of current literature? We may therefore, in the 
interests of those desiring as satisfactory a journal as possible for the 
record of current literature, offer certain criticisms on the Centra/blatt 
as now conducted, not, however, intending to reflect on the manage- 
ment of the journal, which deserves praise for its activity and enter- 
prise. At present, the Centralé/att furnishes original articles, reviews 
of recent books and papers, and a list of current publications, besides 
certain items coming under the head of news. It may be said with’ 
truth that by far the larger portion of the subscribers take the 
Centralblatt for the sole purpose of knowing the contents of botanical 
publications as soon as possible after their issue. They do not take 
the journal because they expect to find in it important original articles, 
but they do expect, in return for their money, as complete an account 
of current literature as the editors are able to furnish. Since 1891, 
however, it has been the practice of the Centra/blatt to issue a series of 
Bethefte, forming annual volumes of about 500 pages, not included in 
the subscription price of the journal but issued as independent volumes. 
The result is that one is practically forced to pay two prices in order to 
obtain the complete set of notices; the notices which one would care to 
