162 General Notes. [February, 
of Naumann’s “Elemente der Mineralogie ™ has just appeared. 
The work has been newly revised and brought up to date by Dr. 
Ferdinand Zirkel, who has undertaken this duty since the death + 
of Naumann in 1873. The new edition contains about fifty 
pages and thirty-three wood-cuts, more than the eleventh (1881). 
The chemical formulz used have all been recalculated and the 
recent advances in the field of optical and physical mineralogy 
ave been incorporated in the body of the work, so that the new 
book is the most complete and satisfactory treatise on general 
mineralogy published in any language. An abstract from the 
forthcoming “ Mineral Resources of the United States, Calendar 
Years 1883 and 1884,” has just been received. It is entitled 
“Precious Stones.” The author is G. F. Kuntz. The paper 
treats of the production of precious stones in the United States 
in 1883 and 1884 and their importation, The total value of pre- 
cious stones found during 1884 was $82,975, including $800 
topaz was taken out. The reports in the newspapers of remark- 
able finds have all been investigated and have proven to be unre- 
liable. The great “ Georgia Marvel” or “ Blue Ridge Sapphire,” 
for instance, which was supposed to be a sapphire worth $50,000, 
turned out to be nothing but a “piece of rolled blue bottle- 
glass.” The paper is interesting as showing just how far we can 
rely upon our own resources to supply us with ornamental stones. 
The author also mentions several uses to which domestic material 
can be applied with fine effect. 
: BOTANY.’ 
Can VARIETIES OF Apples BE DISTINGUISHED BY THEIR FLOW- 
ERS.—To a botanist this may seem like a queer question, capable 
only of an answer in the affirmative, but pomologists have quite 
universally held to the opposite view. awa like the fol- 
lowing, ewe be made from our most eminent writers of pomo- 
" o a are partially classified by the size and color of the 
petals, but in all the other fruits, as in apples, pears, plums, cher- 
ries, etc., the flowers vary but slightly in form and color?” ~~ 
Another says: “ Little difference exists in the flowers.” 
a te der Mineralogie. 951 ills., ipzig, ) 
Lipa tno, 95 7 peg Wein Eageimann 
* Edited by Professor CHARLES E. Bessey, Lincoln, Nebraska. 
