138 
THE CEDAR APPLES OF THE UNITED STATES.* 
The scattered memoirs and observations of Professor Farlow 
on United States Fungi, and the careful manner in which he is 
known to pursue his investigations, at once obtains attention and 
respect for his communications. As a philosophical and scientific 
mycologist, he holds a position in his own country in which he is 
without a rival, and in Europe he finds a ready and willing 
audience whenever he speaks. Under these circumstances we wel- 
come his monograph on the “ Gymnosporangia of the United 
States,” whether or no we agree with his conclusions. It is, un- 
fortunately, too much the habit in these days to seek for the new 
rather than the true, and it becomes quite a relief to turn to 
writings like the present, in which novelties are forgotten in a 
patient investigation in search of the truth. If we open any recent 
Continental memoir, of only two or three pages, on a mycological 
subject, we find new theories, new genera, new combinations, new 
fancies, in nearly every paragraph, until we are driven to the con- 
clusion that these authors can believe in nothing but that which is 
new. The “Lady Audley’s Secret” and “ Woman in White ” 
type of science may have ardent admirers, as the originals have, 
but there still remain a few who have not “ bowed the knee to 
Baal,” and these will welcome the writings of Dr. Farlow. 
The memoir before us commences with a history of the 
modern theory of alternation of generations as applied to the 
Uredineae, in which it is remarked — “ The views of De Bary and 
Tulasne were, as a general rule, accepted by all the leading myco- 
logists of the Continent, but were not so readily received by those 
of Great Britain and again, referring to the connection between 
Uredo and other final forms, &c., “ but British botanists remain 
more or less sceptical on the subject.” Undoubtedly this is the 
fact, not because' we are insensible to evidence, or are unduly pre- 
judiced, but because, on the one hand, we recognise how easy it is 
for the eye to see that which it wishes to see, and, on the other, 
because our temperament does not lead us to catch up any new 
theory and try to shape facts into accordance with it, rather than 
judicially to balance facts, independently of theory. It may be 
We that evidence presents itself with different force to diflerent 
minds. We have not accepted certain conclusions, because the evi- 
dence has not presented itself to our minds as conclusive. Take an 
example — that which is quoted by Professor Farlow is Puccinia 
graminis — it will serve as well as any other, by way of illustration. 
It is contended that the sporidia do not grow except on the bar- 
berry, and thereon produce jPcidium Berheridis ; also that the 
* “ The Gymnosporangia, or Cedar Apples of the United States,” by 
W. G. Farlow. “Anniversary Memoirs of the Boston Society of Natural 
History,” 1880 ; 4to., p. 38. 
