28 



SCIENCE. 



[N. S. Vol. XVIll. No. 444. 



latest eontributiou is a volume of about two 

 hundred pages entitled ' The Principal Species 

 of Wood; Their Characteristic Properties,' by 

 Professor Charles H. Snow, of the School of 

 Applied Science of New York University, and 

 published by John Wiley and Sons. In his 

 preface the author says of the book that it is 

 ' a brief, untechnical presentation of general 

 features characterizing economically impor- 

 tant species of wood.' This should be under- 

 stood as implying that the presentation is 

 untechnical from the botanical standpoint 

 only, for it is emphatically a technical book, 

 in so far as it is designed for the use of 

 foresters, engineers, builders and dealers in 

 wood (lumber) of all kinds. It is written for 

 and appeals to men of these classes, and to 

 that extent it is a technical book. 



The book opens with an introductory chap- 

 ter containing such explanations as will make 

 the text more readily understood. Then fol- 

 low thirty-six sections, each devoted to a 

 group of similar woods, and here each section 

 opens with an introductory statement in re- 

 gard to the species discussed in it. The treat- 

 ment of the particular species may be illus- 

 trated by that of the white oak, which covers 

 the following topics : Nomenclature (includ- 

 ing English and Latin names, as well as the 

 more common synonyms); locality; features 

 of the tree (height, diameter, shape, bark, 

 acorns, leaves) ; color, grain and appearance 

 of the wood; structure of the wood; repre- 

 sentative uses of the wood ; weight of seasoned 

 wood (in pounds per cubic foot) ; modulus of 

 elasticity; modulus of rupture; remarks (the 

 latter general in nature). Each topic is given 

 a paragraph, and each species of wood is given 

 one page, and no more. The book is, there- 

 fore, a very handy one for reference, since all 

 that is said about any particular wood is seen 

 at a glance on one page. Thirty-nine excel- 

 lent ' half-tone ' plates add much to the use- 

 fulness of the volume. It is not too much to 

 say that this book should find a place in every 

 botanical library, and unless we are much 

 mistaken, it will soon become an indispensable 

 work in the hands of those to whom it appeals 

 more directly, and for whom it was primarily 

 designed. 



ANOTHER MOUNT.UN L.\BORATORY. 



For several years the University of Mon- 

 tana has maintained a biological station and 

 laboratory at Flathead Lake, Montana. This 

 year it oilers its fifth annual session, and there 

 will be opportunities for study in botany, zool- 

 ogy, entomology, nature study and photog- 

 raphy. The work in botany includes field 

 study and collecting, classification, type forms, 

 structure, methods of preservation, etc. A 

 general course in ecology and local plant 

 geography is offered also. The region is one 

 which offers opportunities for work on many 

 botanical problems. The surface of the lake 

 is over four thousand feet above sea level, and 

 is surrounded by mountains reaching an alti- 

 tude of ten thousand feet. It should attract 

 many students of nature. 



SPECIMENS OP FUNGI. 



Dr. E. S. Salmon, of Charltou House, 

 Kew, England, the well-known student of the 

 powdery mildews (Erysiphacese) desires Amer- 

 ican students of fungi to procure for him 

 specimens of the fruiting stage of Erysiphe 

 graminis occurring on Poa and other related 

 grasses. The conidial stage is quite common, 

 but the fruiting stage is less so, and it is the 

 latter alone which Dr. Salmon desires. Amer- 

 ican collectors should see that he is supplied 

 with an abundance of good material. 



Charles E. Bessey. 



The Universitt of Nebraska. 



8Cie:xtific notes and news. 



The degree of LL.D. was conferred last 

 week on a number of American men of sci- 

 ence, as follows : Harvard LTniversity, Pro- 

 fessor E. C. Pickering, director of the ob- 

 servatory; N. S. Shaler, professor of geology; 

 William James, professor of philosophy. 

 Tale LTniversity, William H. Brewer, pro- 

 fessor emeritus in the Sheffield Scientific 

 School. Dartmouth College, E. L. Nichols, 

 who has resigned the chair of physics at 

 Dartmouth to accept a similar position at 

 Columbia University; Alfred Thayer Mahan, 

 U.S.N. Amherst College, Frederick J. E. 

 Woodbridge, professor of philosophy in Co- 

 lumbia University, who graduated from Am- 



