By George Vasey and J. N. Rose. Contributions from the U. S. National Herbarium [ Dept. Agriculture] No. III.

1 plate. The botany of Lower California is little known. Dr. Palmer and Mr. Brandegee have lately made explorations of portions of it, and have discovered an interesting lot of new species. The flora is essentially a desert one. Of the plants known in southern Lower California, 76 have also been collected upon the mainland of Mexico, 56 extend into the desert regions of the United States, 10 reach Central America and 8 are South American.

A new genus, Coulterella, named in compliment to Professor J. M. Coulter, of Wabash Colft lege, is described. It is a composite, of doubtful affinity. There is but one species, Coulterella capitata. It is a "shrub with many branches, forming a large bush four feet high," and bearing "a strong aroma of the oil of lemon." It occurs on a sandy beach near the ocean. On the Public Parks of America. By the Rt. Hon. the Earl of Meath. Report to the Parks and Open Spaces Committee of the London County Council. Pp. 34. The Earl of Meath has made a particular study of the parks and park management of America, and he gives his colleagues upon the London park committee the results of his investigations. He has examined our enterprises in an excellent spirit, and he has frankly pointed out their saliant virtues and defects. It is needful that we should have outside criticism. The distinguished author sees much more to admire than condemn in our parks, and he recommends no less than seventeen features of them as "worthy of imitation." These especially commendable features are electric lighting, boulevard systems, the more or less permanent character of the commissions, the control by the park of certain lands and privileges adjoining it, the separate employment of landscape gardeners and architects, the zoological attractions, gymnasiums, and several provisions for picnics and amusements.

"A veritable rage for park making seems to have seized the American public." The result of haste and enthusiasm is often seen in too great artificiality or in features of too striking character. The author's opinion of Central Park, New York, is to the point: "Nature seems in this latter park to be placed under such continual supervision and surveillance of man, so cribbed and cabined by police regulations that artificiality takes the place of natural beauty, and a man has a sense almost of relief on leaving the gardens, feeling thankful that at length he may walk on the highway or pick up a dead leaf without fear of arrest".

A good list, with areas and notes, of the parks and open places in the leading cities of the country is added.

L H. B.

Botany of Lower California.

Coulterella, a New Genus.

American Parka.

Supplement to The American Garden.

The Window Garden.

Copyrighted 1890.

NEW YORK, DECEMBER, 1890.