Notes and News. | 39 
One tree of Psiadia rotundifolia on the island of St. Helena, 
seems to be perfectly alone in the world—the last of its race. It 
is about twenty feet high, formerly common on the island, form- 
ing large groves, but the woodman’s axe and the ravages of goats 
have left only this single specimen. It is the only known tree of | 
the Composite, a family which, with this exception, comprises 
only herbaceous plants. 
Flowers of the magnificent Romneya Coulteri, in cultivation in 
San Diego, have been measured that were nine inches across. 
This is one of the finest of the native plants of Southern Cali- 
fornia. 
A Swede di nis to be masta to convert wood into stone, but the 
present cost is about $500 per cubic inch. 
A German scientist forces oil into the pores of soft wood, then 
subjects it to intense pressure, thereby solidifying it, rendering it 
as good as lignum vite for such purposes as stern bearings for 
propeller shafts, etc. 
The electrical process of refining sugar turns out to be a 
swindle of gigantic proportions, 
Sir James Hector maintains that the chief use of the antlers is 
not for fighting so much as for facilitating the progress of the 
stag through dense woods. In his experience with the elk he 
finds that by throwing up the head, thereby placing the horns 
along the back, the animals were enabled to go forward with 
great rapidity and follow the hinds. The experience of others 
in India and New Zealand seems to confirm this view, 
An ornithologist and odlogist’s directory is being compiled by 
Messrs. Menefee and Corless, of San Jose, California, who desire 
the names and addresses of every student and collector to render 
their work complete. 
The California State Fruit Growers’ ley anea session convened 
at National City on April 16, 17, 18, and Ig. 
The tin mines of Dakota are now considered beyond doubt of 
immense value, and it is expected that English capitalists will 
soon take steps toward their development. 
Pueblo, Colorado, has decided to erect a mineral palace, 
200X290 feet, constructed of heavy timbers entirely concealed in- 
side and outside by minerals, epecially iron, coal, copper, galena, 
coke and manufactures of iron and steel. Within, it is hoped to 
have specimens from every gold and silver mine of. ‘any import- 
ance in the United States and Mexico. 
Gold has been recently reported as having been iouney in sev- 
eral provinces of Japan. 
At the last summer fair of Irbit, which is a market for only a 
part of the furs exported from Siberia, skins of 3,180,000 squir- 
rels, 11,000 blue foxes, 140,000 marmots, 30,000 polecats, 10,000 
badgers, 1 1,300,000 hares and 2 ,000 foxes, were offered tor sale, 
