170 



starches, plant acids, dye stuffs, fats, waxes and rare aromatic 

 principles. The exhibit is the gift of E. Merck & Co., of Darm- 

 stadt and New York, and includes nearly 500 specimens 01 

 poisons, medicines and other substances. The more valuable 

 specimens of the alkaloids are contained in "hour-glass" vials 

 whereby minute quantities are exhibited to the best advantage. 

 At retail prices, duty free, the exhibit is estimated to be worth 

 several thousands of dollars. 



The total precipitation for the month was 1.7 1 inches. Maxi- 

 mum temperatures were recorded of 84 on the 2d ; 90 on the 

 10th; 88° on the 15th; S4 on the 22d, and 94 ° on the 30th; 

 also minimum temperatures of 56° on the 8th; 49 on the 12th; 



very interesting collection of the cactuses of the genus 

 itia (prickly pears) grown in the gardens of Sir John Han- 



at La Mortola, Italy, has recently been received by Dr. 

 jn in exchange for other plants sent to La Mortola. These 



56.5' 



n the n 



:ollec 



ofsucc 





brought together in the open air anywhere in the world, and the 

 study of these collections by Mr. A. Berger, is adding much to 

 our knowledge of many species ; he has recently described a 

 number of these prickly pears as species new to science, but in 



esting, has been lost, and we now have the opportunity of 

 endeavoring to correlate them with wild species in cultivation 

 here. It is suspected, however, that these plants cultivated 111 

 the Mediterranean region have changed from their natural char- 

 acteristics, and that therefore such correlation may not be pos- 

 sible. A fine lot of the native species of the island of Jamaica 

 has also recently been received from the Hon. William Fawcett, 

 Director of Public Gardens and Plantations of that island, supply- 

 ing several species not hitherto represented in our collections. 



Many of the water lilies in the large pools in the court of the 

 conservatories are now in full bloom. In the westerly pool are 

 mainly tender sorts which it is necessary to protect in winter, or 

 to grow fresh from seed each spring. Among these are young 



