1885. ] Botany. 605 
As to the time for collecting, the author says: “The hepatics 
should be collected for preservation and study when in fruit, if 
this be possible, and this condition occurs at different seasons in 
the various species ; some bear fruit in late autumn, some in early 
spring, some in midsummer ; in short, there is scarcely any sea- 
son of the year, even winter, that will not find some form in fruit, 
yet the period from October to May may include the larger num- 
ber of species for the cool temperate regions of America. Many 
species have never been found in fruit, and possibly never produce 
fruit, so it will be advisable to collect all species whether in fruit 
or not, for otherwise these less known forms may be neglected.” 
Comparing the systematic portion of this work with that of 
Sullivant, which was published in Gray’s Manual, twenty-five 
years ago or thereabouts, we find a very considerable increase in 
the number of genera and species. 
k Genera. Species. 
Orders of pont; Sullivant. Underwood. Siae Underwood. 
Ricciaceæ 2 3 8 24 
Marchantiacez....... eek w 8 13 o EA 22 
Anthocerotaceze.. .scasseceess 2 2 6 14 
Jungermanniace® ...ess.ssees 26 32 82 169 
An effort has been made to help the beginning by a judicious 
introduction of keys and synoptic characters, which from a per- 
sonal trial we can assure the reader is fairly successful. The book 
ought to stimulate our younger botanists to take up the study of 
these plants, and we trust that the request of the author that col- 
lectors communicate specimens of the forms found in their locali- 
ties may be abundantly rewarded.— Charles E. Bessey. 
Botany AT SALEM.—The following extract from Professor 
Robinson’s annual report of the work of the Peabody Academy 
of Science (the old home of the NATURALIST) shows a commend- 
able activity in its botanical department during the year 1884: 
“ In the department of botany a great improvement has been 
made. As various collections were from time to time arranged 
of white wood, containing ninety-six compartments, has been 
placed in the lecture-room, in which all the Essex county collec- 
tions and the general reference collection from North America 
have been arranged. Other collections have also been placed in 
the lecture-room, so that now the herbarium is in a dry and 
pleasant room-where it can be easily referred to by those in charge. 
of it and by students who desire to consult it. 
“The academy now owns a very good collection of botanical 
reference books, and two microscopes, which, under proper restric- 
tions, are placed at the disposal of any persons desiring to com- 
species at the museum. The herbarium is by far the best 
in the county; it is centrally and conveniently situated, and has 
