310 BOTANICAL GAZETTE [APRIL 
authoritative character of the account. The presentation is given in the form of 
quoted paragraphs from conversations with BURBANK, and the assurance is given 
that these have been referred to him for verification. This method certainly 
has advantages which to some degree counterbalance the disconnectedness and 
the frequent repetition of ideas which necessarily result from it. There is 
nothing new or unusual in the methods employed by BURBANK, namely, ‘‘selec- 
tion, crossing, hybridization, and mutation,” and it is apparent that his success 
is dependent upon his great activity rather than upon the methods used. This 
paper is of great scientific interest, but of little scientific value, and emphasizes 
with unusual force the difference between the economic and scientific ideals. 
It will be a source of information to scientists, but certainly of a great deal of 
misinformation to the general public, with whom the source of the statements 
made will carry a weight wholly incommensurate with their scientific value. It 
appears to the reviewer that the compiler of these paragraphs from BURBANK’S 
conversations owed it to his readers to explain two features of the technique 
employed which would lead to a correct valuation of the statements made. 
“Strawberry-raspberry hybrids” cause less surprise when it is known that 
insufficient precautions were taken to prevent the entrance of foreign pollen of 
unknown origin; similarly, when apple-trees grow from blackberry seeds it is 
well to bear in mind that the seeds were sown in unsterilized soil. The dis- 
cussions of the mutation theory and other subjects bearing upon evolution will 
prove amusing.—G. H. SHULL. 
ITEMS OF TAXONOMIC INTEREST are as follows: EpitH M. Farr (Contrib. 
Bot. Lab. Univ. Penn. 2: 417-425. 1904) has described a new species of Pachy- 
stima from the Selkirks of British Columbia.—W. A. MvrriLt (Bull. Torr. Bot. 
Club 31:593-610. 1904), in his ninth paper on the Polyporaceae, has described 
Laetiporus, Trichaptum, and Pogonomyces as new genera.—J. A. SHAFER (Torreya 
4:177-181. 1904) has separated a new species of Cassia (C. Medsgeri) from C. 
marilandica.— In continuing their account of the flora of western Australia, 
L. Drets and E. Pritzer (Bot. Jahrb. 35:161-528. 1904) describe numerous 
new species and also a new genus (Psammomoya) of Celastraceae—EDWARD L. 
GREENE (Leaflets 1:81-96. 1904) has segregated from Streptanthus many of ie 
Californian plants that have been referred to it, and has established the following 
genera to include them: Euclisia (14 Spp-, 3 new), Pleiocardia (9 spp-, 2 new), 
Mitophyllum, Microsemia, and Mesoreanthus (3 spp., 2 new); has repl 
Chlorogalum Kunth by the older Laothoe Raf.; has recognized Aloitis Rat as 
represented by Gentiana quinqueflora occidentalis and adds two new species: an 
has described new species of Batrachium (2) and Sophia (2).—B. F. Bus# sea 
Acad. Sci. St. Louis 14:181-193. 1904) has monographed the Texan species . 
Tradescantia, recognizing 18 species, 10 of which are new—P. A. coat 
(Bull. Torr. Bot. Club 31:631-655. 1904), in his 13th ‘Studies on the ear 
Mountain flora,” has described new species in Dodecatheon, Gentianella, > ' 
(6), Polemonium (2), Lappula (2), Oreocarya (2), Mertensia (6), Stachys, Mon 
