1897] CURRENT LITERATURE 135 
to prevent the death of the plant from starvation. The various conditions of 
temperature or illumination which affect growth affect the turgor in exactly 
the opposite manner, so that if growth is retarded turgor rises, if growth is 
accelerated turgor falls. on is regulated by, rather than regulates, the 
rapidity of oor —C. R. 
THE SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT of Schimmel & Co.," for October 1896, gives 
special attention to the following topics: Almond oil, which is used exten- 
sively to perfume cocoanut oil soaps, is more certain to produce a white soap 
which will not discolor if it is free from hydrocyanic acid; otherwise most 
careful attention to temperatures is requisite in the process of manufacture 
and drying. The regions of China yielding cassia oil have recently been 
traversed by O. Struckmeyer, and a map shows their location, which is chiefly 
in Kwang-si and Kwang-tung, south of the Si or West river, along the paral- 
lel of 23° N. and between 110° and 112° E. The oil is distilled from about 
70 per cent. of leaves and 30 per cent. of twigs. Bergamot, lemon and 
orange oils are discussed, especially in relation to adulterations.—— Some 
interesting figures are given of the peppermint crop in the states of Michigan, 
Indiana, and New York, which will produce this season nearly 200,000 pounds 
of oil, of which Michigan produces about two-thirds. The largest pepper- 
mint field in the world is in Alfegan and Pear! counties, about a mile long. 
_——The rose fields for which this firm is famous yielded the past season 
265,000 kilos of roses, representing about 60 kilos of pure rose oil.—C. R. B. 
NOTES FOR STUDENTS. 
THE EARLIEST general presentation of the Caryophyllacez, that of De 
Candolle’s Prodromus, can claim little merit. In fact, it is hard to say 
whether the treatment of the Alsinez by Seringe, or of the genus Silene by 
Otth, shows the greater haste and superficiality. Far more scholarly was the 
work of Fenzl, who, in his admirable treatment of the Russian and Siberian 
— in his contributions to Endlicher’s Genera, as well as in scattered 
and tary papers, shows the first critical insight into the 
order. ‘Since “the time of Fenzl, the most | noteworthy contributors to our 
knowledge of } i William ms. 
_ Of these Srbeuhe during his short but active life, completed s masterly 1 mae 
graphs of Silene and Melan dryum, and also prepar 
for the Flora Brasiliensis, while Boissier in his Flora Orientaiis bas foe ; 
full and accurate descriptions of the nemexoas oeerrecasaes! 
eS oriental C: ares noteworthy. 
o ba all living writers, however, Mr. Williams has doubtless the broadest - 
- iene Bros. cna _ New York. 
