DECEMBER 3, 1897. ] 
each species was to be carefully cited, and a 
full list of synonyms given. The original 
author adhered to the ‘ law of priority ’ with 
cousiderable rigidity, and therefore cited the 
dates of the accepted specific names and all 
Synonyms. His initial date for the present 
system of nomenclature was that of the pub- 
lication of the first edition of Linnzeus’s 
“Species Plantarum,’ viz.: 1753, and he dis- 
earded absolutely all earlier names. Dr. 
Gurke apparently does not so fully sanction 
the strict application of the law of priority, 
although he follows it in nearly all cases, 
his practice agreeing with that of the other 
Berlin botanists, who would except certain 
Jong-used names from the application of the 
law. 
Volume I. included the Monocotyledons, 
which number 1839 species, 840 sub-species, 
and 122 hybrids. These are divided among 
259 genera. The largest orders are the 
‘Graminez (751 species), Liliaceze (342), 
Cyperaceze (287), Orchidacez (170), and 
Tridaceze (105). 
The first fascicle of Volume II. includes 
& number of orders of apetalous plants, 
arranged in the Engler and Prantl sequence, 
viz.: Juglandacex (1 species), Myricacese 
(2), Salicaceze (234), Betulaceze (24), Faga- 
exe (34), Ulmaceze (7), Moraceze (22), 
Loranthacez (4), Santalaceze (26), Bala- 
nophoracez (1), Aristolochiaceze (16), Raf- 
flesiacez (1), Polygonaceze (138), and Chen- 
-opodiacese (unfinished, 89). In many of 
the foregoing orders the numbers include 
many hybrids. This is especially true of 
the Willows, of which there are 48 distinct 
Species and more than three times as many 
hybrids (178); of the Oaks there are 21 
Species and 11 hybrids, but here there are 
included under the 21 species no less than 
52 sub-species. 
THE DISEASES OF BERMUDA LILIES. 
Tue beautiful lilies which are annually 
grown in enormous quantities, to be used 
SCIENCE. 
837, 
for decorative purposes during the Easter 
services, have become seriously affected by 
some obscure diseases which threaten to 
drive out their cultivation. For some time 
Mr. A. F. Woods, the Assistant Chief of 
the Division of Vegetable Physiology and 
Pathology, in Washington, has been study- 
ing these diseases, in the hope of finding 
their cause and cure. The diseased condi- 
tion is characterized by the spotting and 
distortion of the leaves, flowers and bulb- 
scales, and the stunting of the plants. In 
severe cases the leaves, as they appear 
above the ground, are marked with small, 
yellowish-white shrunken spots, which 
finally dry out and collapse. Occasionally 
the disease appears to be somewhat local, 
the leaves on one side of the stem, or of 
particular whorls, alone being affected. It 
is estimated that from twenty to sixty per 
cent. of the entire hot-house crop of these 
lilies is annually destroyed by disease. 
Many theories have been suggested as to 
the cause of the trouble, some attributing 
it to the growth of the bulbs upon worn- 
out soils, some to the weakening of the 
vitality of the plants by unscientific treat- 
ment, as premature removal of leaves, 
premature harvesting of the bulbs and 
want of care in the selection of bulbs for 
propagation. Others again suggest that bad 
treatment of the bulbs in the forcing house 
is the principal cause, while still others 
think that insects produce the trouble. 
Mr. Woods finds, upon investigation, 
that, instead of one disease, we have to 
deal with several. The lilies are suffering 
from a complication of diseases. He sum- 
marizes his results as follows: ‘‘ The work 
done shows that the disease is due to a 
combination of causes. In the first place, 
the bulbs have become weakened through 
improper selection and improper propaga- 
tion, and this weakening is further in- 
creased by the attacks of mites and certain 
fungi and bacteria. Bulbs which have 
