170 



and empirical character. A series of small books upon the trees, 

 shrubs, and herbaceous plants, and upon the ferns, mosses, 

 hepatics, fungi, lichens, etc., would be of the greatest service in 

 arousing interest in botany and do more to further its advance- 

 ment, we believe, than is being accomplished to-day by the 

 schools and numerous publications. 



The number of tropical and subtropical trees occurring within 

 the range covered by the book is remarkable. These forms are 

 becoming somewhat familiar to us through their cultivation in 

 greenhouses and their utilization in other ways ; and it is indeed 

 a great service to make their identification and interesting fea- 

 tures readily accessible. Several desirable changes have been 

 made in the scientific and common names ; mention may be made 

 byway of illustration of the substitution o{ Magnolia grandifiora 

 for M.foetida and of the separation of the flowering dogwoods, 

 under the generic name, Cynoxylon, from the cornels. What- 

 ever may be the laws governing such matters it will be a satis- 

 faction to use an appropriate name for the attractive and fragrant 

 great laurel magnolia and to give generic rank to so distinctive 

 forms as our dogwoods. 



The book is provided with a complete index and glossary, and 

 an excellent series of keys, running the forms out to families, 

 genera, and species. These features are of great service and 

 will widely extend its usefulness and make it indispensable as a 

 work of reference. 



Carlton C. Curtis. 



Columbia University. 



PROCEEDINGS OF THE CLUB 



April 29, 1908 



The meeting was called to order at 3:45 p. m. by Vice-presi- 

 dent John Hendley Barnhart. Fourteen persons were present. 



The following abstracts were submitted by the authors of the 

 papers presented : 



" The Boletiof the Frost Herbarium," by Dr. William Alphonso 

 Murrill. 



