1905] CURRENT LITERATURE 371 
This work by Dr. FiscHer, for which he has been preparing for more than a 
dozen years, is replete with new matter of great value and is altogether admirable. 
—J. C. ARTHUR. 
MINOR NOTICES. 
THE FOSSIL FRUITS from the lignites of Brandon, Vermont, are the subject 
of an important contribution by PeRKins.? In 1861 LEsQUEREUX described 
twenty-one species from this locality, which he regarded as of approximately the 
same age as the (Eningen stage of the Swiss Miocene. In 1902 KNowLTon pub- 
lished a brief paper of forms from this locality which represents all we knew of 
this interesting flora up to the time of publication of the present paper. The 
deposits have been much obscured and inaccessible for a half century, until the 
coal famine of 1902, when the lignite came into demand locally as a substitute for 
coal. The state geologist, GEORGE H. PERKrNs, was enabled to secure a mag- 
nificent collection of the fossil fruits during the mining operations, and the present 
paper contains the result of preliminary study of these collections. One hundred 
and eighteen species are recorded, and many new forms of more or less doubtful 
botanical affinities are described. These are largely included in the following 
new genera: Monocarpellites (11 spp.), Hicoroides (5), Bicarpellites (5), Bran- 
donia, Rubioides, Sapindoides (6), and Prunoides. The illustrations consist 
chiefly of photographs of type specimens, which are perhaps less satisfactory in 
showing details than careful drawings. The flora is unique in the abundance 
and variety of its fruits, and it is to be hoped that future study by Dr. PERKINS 
will demonstrate with more precision the exact age of the formation containing 
them. The accompanying clays should be searched for leaf remains.—EDWARD 
W. Berry. 
PopuLaR ACcouNTs of soil inoculation for legumes devised by Moore have 
attracted wide attention, so that it is of special interest to receive his own account. 
The nitrogen is fixed by the tubercle-forming bacteria within their bodies. This 
was determined by cultures in flasks containing nutrient solutions without nitro- 
gen. There was no increase of nitrogen in the solution, but a marked increase 
in the organisms themselves. In its biology the organism is therefore considered 
* PERKINS, Geo. H., Description of species found in the Tertiary Lignite of 
Brandon, Vermont. Rept. State Geologist, Vt. 1903-1904. pp- 174-212. pls. 75-SI. 
1904. 
> Moorg, G. T., Soil inoculation for legumes, etc. _U. S. Dept. of Agric., Bureau 
of Pl. Industry, Bull. 71, pp. 72. pls. 10. 1905. 
