BOOK-NOTES, NEWS, ETC. 885 
also made on the acacia of the pyrenoids and moving corpuscles 
in the genus iceldas 
The author’s cone era = as follow:—(1) The structure of 
the cell. seriteaits is one of the most constant features exhibited by 
a species, but one of little oladelaioiry value owing to the pees 
number of species which possess the same structure and arrange- 
ment of the paper eo (2) The outward form of the cell, as 
seen in front view, varies within eain limits, which are usually 
very small, but which may in exceptional cases ae considerable. 
The form of the vertical view is, as a rule, a more constant feature 
ion of t 
tions from the typical forms. (5) Slight changes in the conditions 
of environment cannot affect the characters of a species unless the 
me 
development. The paper concluded with a oul account of the 
evolution of the genera of Desmi 
In a work of 257 well- aia pages, entitled Die Alpen-Pflanzen 
in der Gartenkultur der Tieflinder (Berlin: Gustav Schmidt), Herr 
Erich Wocke presents us with a | ainshle handbook on the culture 
of alpine plants. An introductory chapter on mountain climate is 
followed by a short résumé on the physiognomy of alpine species, 
and this by a discussion of the various soils suitable to, and of the 
effects of different soils upon, them. The conditions for successful 
cultivation of these plants are then dealt with, including such sub- 
jects as moisture, illumination, shortening of the vegetative period, 
protection against unfavourable conditions, and treatment according 
to habitat, three classes—‘‘ rock,” ‘“ humus,” and ‘ half-humus” 
species— es—being recognised under the last heading. Chapters on 
pot-culture, ladgukion, and insect and other pests lead to well- 
ted accounts of ithe construction and planting of rockeries; 
and a list of alpine species suitable for cultivation, and which has 
the merit of showing at a glance the treatment . be followed in 
each case, brings to its close what seems to us a very creditable 
piece of work on an interesting branch of LsciGinabtenea: A transla- 
tion of Flere Wocke’s book would doubtless be appreciated by English 
and American cultivators 
MM. Batuurére et FILs : (Paris) publish a comprehensive Biblio- 
graphie Botanique, containing notices of about five thousand volumes, 
which they will send to any botanist on application. 
Tue Report of the Watson Botanical Exchange Club for 1897-8 
(published 1899) is largely devoted to notes upon Rubi and Roses by 
