BOTANICAL INDEX 
2 !> 
RECENT PUBLICATIONS. 
In the October (1879) number of the Index we made the announcement, upon sec- 
ond handed authority, that Thomas Meehan’s “ Native Flowers and Ferns of the United 
States " had been temporarily suspended for want of patronage. We should have 
known officially that such was the case before making such an important statement, 
but thinking our informant well informed we did not mention the matter in our corre- 
spondence with Mr. Meehan. We now find we have made a serious mistake, which 
we take great pleasure in correcting. Mr. Meehan informs us that the undertaking 
is a perfect success and has more than paid expenses, and that it will be continued 
during 1880 by issuing a third series, of ninety-six chapters, in twelve numbers at 
fifty cents each, at intervals during the year of about a month each. The drawings 
are already made and the description will be prepared as fast as needed. This is cer- 
tainly very encouraging, and we congratulate Mr. Meehan upon his success. Proba- 
bly no botanical work of more importance was ever undertaken, certainly there is 
mottling like it in the world to-day, for in addition to the scientific descriptions, the 
carefully prepared drawings will destinguish each species almost as correctly as 
many authors descriptions. Again, these beautiful drawings will often create a de- 
sire for the readers to know more of the plants and, as a result, secure additional 
students and collectors. Mr. Meehan lias entered upon the undertaking with a great 
deal of enthusiasm, and we all hope he may be favored with a long life to see the ob- 
ject of his desire accomplished. He says he could publish one hundred parts every 
six months just as well as only six as now issued. 
Another very important work is “ Bentham and Hooker’s Genera Plantarum ," which 
is of so much interest to many of our readers that we clip the following from the 
December number of the Botanical Gazette,: “The first part of the third and 
concluding volume of this important work — to comprise the remaining Dicotyledo- 
nous orders — is now in press, and will be published in London at the close of the 
year. It is convenient and may not be improper to announce in the Botanical Gazette , 
that most of the botanists in the United States who possess this indispensable work 
thus far have procured it through the mediation of the subscriber, who, in view of 
the number of copies thus taken is supplied at a considerable discount, the whole 
advantage of which inures to the recipient. The two volumes already completed are 
published at £5, 6, 0. The price charged the subscriber is £4, 8, 0. The new part 
will be furnished at a similar discount. Botanists who have in this way obtained 
the published parts, and who wish to receive the remainder through the same chan- 
nel, are requested to communicate their wishes in this respect, without delay, to The 
Curator of the Herbarium of Harvard University, Cambridge, Mass. — Asa Gray.” 
At last we have a General Index to the annual Reports of the U. S. Department of 
Agriculture, and now they will be of some value as books of reference, but as it was, 
it was almost impossible to utilize them because it was so very difficult to find the 
article desired. There is a great deal of permanent value contained in these Reports, 
and now since they are becoming scarce they are more called for. The Index in- 
cludes the whole series issued by the Department, from 1837 to 1876, and reflects 
great credit on Commissioner LeDuc, under whose authority it was published. 
Between Horticultural Magazines, Journals and new books, no one need to lack 
for information in the world’s progress in botany.. But as their name is legion we 
can only refer to a few that present some feature of special interest. The California 
Horticulturist is devoted almost entirely to the interest of the Pacific coast, and fills 
its calling most completely. Indeed it is now one of the most important magazines 
of the day, and we hope it will still make the Horticulture and Agriculture of the 
Pacific coast a special study. The Gardener' s Monthly, American Agriculturist and 
Vick's Monthly are indispensable to all practical cultivators, while the Bulletin of the 
Torrey Botanical Club and Botanical Gazette fill the eye of the scientist with delight at 
all times. The American Naturalist and Silliman's Journal often contain much of bot- 
anical interest, but they contain so many articles on other branches of natural his- 
tory that we are often disappointed with certain numbers. But our constant supply 
of (literary) food in the shape of weekly papers is, after all, one of the greatest feasts 
we have, but, where shall we commence to write of them for they come in immense 
numbers. Let us travel with the sun and gather a few as we go. In New York 
city we find the Rural New Vorlcer and Moore's Rural Life; in Albany, the Country 
Gentleman; at Indianapolis, the Indiana Farmer; at Chicago, the Prairie Farmer and 
Factory ami Farm; at Lincoln, Neb., the Nebraska Farmer ; at Lawrence, Kan., the - Spirit 
of Kansas; at San Francisco, the Pacific Rural Press and the California Farmer; all of 
which are conducted in the most satisfactory manner, and all of which we take es- 
pecial pleasure in recommending to our friends as worthy a place in each house- 
hold. 
