1914] CURRENT LITERATURE 335 
MINOR NOTICES 
Index Filicum.—In 1905 Cart CHRISTENSEN published his Index Filicum, 
and now a supplement has appeared,® covering the period 1906-1912. The 
two parts are (1) the supplement, which contains all the names of ferns pub- 
lished during 1906-1912, and (2) corrections. In the supplement there are 
enumerated 33 names of new genera and subgenera that have been proposed. 
The number of species described as new during the period covered, and adopted: 
in the supplement, is 1644. Eliminating the older species that have been 
reduced to synonyms, and adding the new ones, the number of species of ferns 
Tecognized by CHRISTENSEN at the end of 1912 is 7411.—J. M. C. 
The fresh-water flora of Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.—Part 14 of 
this series of brochures has now appeared.’ The four previous parts have been 
noted in this journal. The present part presents the Bryophytes, and the 
keys, descriptions, and excellent illustrations should make their identification 
comparatively easy. The genera and species presented under the three groups 
are as follows: Sphagnales, 48 species; Bryales, 50 genera and 131 species; 
Hepaticae, 25 genera and 60 species.—J. M. C. 
NOTES FOR STUDENTS 
Natural vegetation and crop production.—In a careful study in one of the 
broad valleys in the Great Salt Lake Basin, KEARNEY? and his associates have 
shown that the natural vegetation of the area is so reliable an indication of the 
Physical and chemical conditions affecting plant life that it affords an excellent 
is for estimating the capabilities of the land for crop production. The 
Teport gives a good example of the quantitative investigation of the moisture 
and salt contents of the soil and the efficiency of the wilting coefficient in 
€xpressing the relation of the soil moisture to plant life and growth. Nearly 
all of the plant associations considered are dominated by a single species and 
very definitely limited in their extent. : 
The sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata) association is found in the higher 
Portions of the valley. With an average precipitation of 40 cm., the growth- 
*Curistensen, Cart, Index Filicum. Supplementum 1906-1912. pp. 132. 
Hafnia, Denmark: H. Hagerup. 1913. 
" Pascuer, A., Die Siisswasser-Flora, Deutschlands, Osterreichs, und der Schweiz. 
Part 14, Bryophyta, by C. H. Warnstorr, W. MoNKEMEYER, and V. SCHIFFNER. 
PP. 222. figs. 158. Jena: Gustav Fischer. 1914. M 5.60. 
* Bor. Gaz. 56: 233. 193. — 
’ Kearney, T. H., Bricos, L. J., Saanrz, H. L., and others. Indicator signifi- 
Sance of vegetation in Tooele Valley, Utah. Jour. Agric. Research 1:365-417. 1914. 
