38 
small lack in a work so generally excellent is not to be taken 
seriously.*—N. T. 
Dr. W. J. Gies, consulting chemist of the New York Botanical 
Garden and ‘professor of biological chemistry in Columbia Uni- 
versity, has been very active in the establishment of the Bio- 
chemical Bulletin, the first number of which appeared recently. 
This publication, which is to appear quarterly, each volume con- 
taining about five hundred pages, is the official organ of the Co- 
lumbia University Biochemical Association. In addition to the 
publication of biochemical research, this organ aims to extend 
general biochemical knowledge and furnish a means of keeping 
the workers in the home laboratories in closer touch with those 
who have gone out to other fields of labor. The first number 
contains 160 pages and is devoted to scientific papers and notes 
and news of a biochemical nature. One of the papers (pp. 7-41, 
with three plates) is by Professor F. E. Lloyd, and is entitled, 
“The tannin-colloid complexes in the fruit of the persimmon, 
Diospyros.” We understand that the Biochemical Bulletin will 
aim to give special encouragement to the development of chem- 
ical studies in botany and that chemical papers on botanical 
subjects will be welcomed to its pages.—From the Journal of 
the New York Botanical Garden. 
H. D. Tiemann in American Forestry for April calls attention 
to the fact that wood workers know too little of the structure of 
wood. To the engineer, carpenter, and manufacturer the micro- 
scopic structure of this material ought to be most illuminating. 
It would answer such questions as the following: “‘ Why is white 
oak more lasting and better wearing than red oak, and why is 
the former suitable for light cooperage while the latter is not? 
Why are firs so difficult to treat with preservatives and pines 
so easy? Why is eucalyptus so difficult to dry?"—]. B. 
THE FLORA OF THE RARITAN ForMATION. (Edward W. Berry. 
Geological Survey of New Jersey, Bulletin No. 3. 8уо, рр. 1-233, 
* The work is being republished by the authors in book form. The original 
issue of the bulletin was free, but is now practically exhausted. 
