63 
being devoted to them. The red algae exhibit a marvelous 
range of ferm and color, which can be better appreciated by 
seeing than from any maa at verbal SS Note- 
worthy among the larger specimens are nts of Gelidium 
cartilagineum, Callymenia perfor a, Rhodri palmata, Nito- 
phyllum latissimum, Deles Sinuos. vinnelia Americana, 
Claudea elegans, ee bireeieeas and Halymenia Flori- 
dana. Finally are four museum cases largely given to the 
group of red algae which are known as the corallines on account 
of their outward resemblance to the corals. These plants are 
thoroughly permeated with lime and are often as hard and stone- 
ny coral 
found in arctic as well as temperate and tropical regions 
tropics they often accompany the true corals and doubtless play 
a part with them in the great work of building up the coral 
reefs, 
MarsHaLt A, Howe. 
NOTES, NEWS AND COMMENT. 
Professor F. S. Earle, one of the Assistant Curators at the 
Garden, has gone to Cuba, on leave of absence, at the request of 
the Cuban Government for the purpose of aiding that Govern- 
ment in the establishment of a Department of Agriculture. The 
invitation to Professor Earle to perform this work which will be 
of enormous importance to American tropical agriculture and 
horticulture came to him through the U. S. Department of Agri- 
culture. The plan contemplates the establishment of one or 
more thoroughly equipped and thoroughly manned agricultural 
experiment stations in Cuba, similar to those which have proved 
of such value in the development of the United ee vcr 
with an agricultural and botanical survey of the entire Islan 
Dr. MacDougal has returned to the Garden om his mer 
dition through the lower valley of the Colorado River and the 
shores of the Gulf of California. He has obtained a large col- 
lection of plants and specimens from this region, which will 
doubtless add much of value and interest to the collections. 
