50 
twelve species, from central Texas to California and Mex It 
is most readily distinguished from Dasylirion, a ae re 
genus inhabiting the same general territory, by its entire leaves, 
the leaves in the other genus being usually densely armed on the 
important differences between the two genera; the included 
stamens and three-celled ovary of Molina and the exserted 
stamens and one-celled ovary Hs Dasylivion are characters of this 
class. GroRGE V. Nasu 
NOTES, NEWS AND COMMENT. 
r, Alexander P. Anderson who made some investigations at 
the Garden resulting in the discovery of a valuable — of 
treating starchy seeds for economic purposes in Igot and 1902, 
has recently donated to the Garden a fine model of fea automatic 
weighing apparatus devised and constructed by him. This appa- 
ratus was used by Dr. Anderson in his abecwagne on the 
growth of fleshy fruits, and is a valuable acquisition to the equip- 
ment of the laboratories. 
Dr. B. E. Livingston, of the Bureau of Soils, U. S. Depart- 
ment of egenin has published a paper in the January num- 
ber of the Bulletin of the Torrey Botanical Club on the 
“ Chemical Similanoa of a Green Algae.” The investigations 
described in this paper reached some important results which 
were obtained by Dr. Livingston while resident at the Botanical 
Garden, September to December, 1903, as a recipient of a 
research oa. grant. This — is published as Contri- 
bution No. e Garden se 
Dr. W. al ning ne sailed for Cuba on 
February 25. Dr. Murrill will make a collection of fungi in the 
island, visiting some Teealitids from which no material of this 
kind is yet available. He is expected to return late in March. 
The Carnegie Institution has recently published a paper on 
‘‘The Mutations and Hybrids of the Oenotheras” by Dr. D. T. 
