﻿I5S KIRLD AND FOREST. 



perature, for sewing machines are usually kept in warm rooms during 

 winter, and this we might suppose would rather be an accelerating than 

 a retarding cause. Whatever the reasons for the phenomenon may be, 

 such as I have related are the facts. 



S. S. Rath von. 



Local Plant Catalogues. 



Within two or three years past has sprung up a literature which 

 promises not only to facilitate exchanges among botanists, but to give 

 precision and definite purpose to botanical explorations, and to con- 

 nect the results of such explorations, so as at no distant day to increase 

 very largely our knowledge of botanical geography, and to throw much 

 light upon questions of special and varietal differences. 



It is to be hoped that such local catalogues may be multiplied, and 

 that to render them of the greatest scientific value and practical use, 

 the species may be numbered consecutively, so as to give at a glance 

 the relative richness of different localities. It will also be well that 

 notes respecting exact locality, time of inflorescence, station, &c, be 

 added to an extent not inconsistent with moderate cost. 



If every state and county, or perhaps every botanical district, could 

 have such a catalogue, and if in addition every town could have its 

 local collection of its flora and fauna, it would not only add greatly 

 to the accuracy and extent of our scientific knowledge, but would do 

 much to excite in the community, especially among the young, an inter- 

 est in, and promote an acquaintance with the natural history of their 

 own immediate localities. Field and Forest will be glad to notice any 

 such catalogues that may come in its way. 



Among the earliest, and altogether the most comprehensive, attrac- 

 tive in appearance, and decidedly extravagent in width of margin, 

 had it not been the work of private generosity, is il A Catalogue of 

 plants growing within thirty miles of Amherst College,'''' by Edward 

 Tuckerman, M. A., and Charles C Frost, M. A. 



Recalling the long and thorough explorations of these veterans, with 

 the valuable aid of Rev. H. G. Jesup, Profs. Clark, Goodale, Hitchcock 

 and others, since the publication of the first catalogue by Prest. Hitchcock 

 in 1829, it need hardly surprise us to find here enumerated, of Phae- 



