The Journal of Botany, British and Foreign (Volume 5) (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1867. Excerpt: ... BOTANICAL NEWS. In a paper read at the Geographical Society on Explorations in Central America, Mr. John Collinson, C.E., states that amongst the curious causes which affected the compass when cutting his way through the primeval forests of Nicaragua, were " some of the enormous Mahogany and Wild Cotton (Eriodendron) trees, which would often attract it as much as three degrees, observations of the Pole Star and Southern Cross attesting the truth of the theodolite lines, and confirming the occurrence of the phenomenon." If this statement should be borne out by future investigations, Mr. Collinson will have made a valuable discovery, for we do not find even a hint on the subject in writings where we expected to find it, --on trees struck by lightning. With regard to the latter subject, it would be desirable to collect more data than we at present possess. Dr. Buchenau has lately raised the question whether or not certain species of trees, such as the Birch, enjoy an immunity from being struck, or rather say, injured by lightning. No observations seem to be on record of Cocoa-nut Palms being injured by lightning, though, as Tennant, in his wellknown work on Ceylon, states, they are known to be excellent lightning conductors. The first part of volume i. of a new series of Hooker's ' Icones Plantorum; or, Figures, with descriptive characters and remarks, of new or rare plants selected from the Kew Herbarium' (price seven shillings, post free), is now published by Messrs. Williams and Norgate, 14, Henrietta Street, Covent Garden, London, W.C. The numbering of the Plates (which are drawn by Mr. Fitch) is in continuation of the former series, commencing with 1001, and representing the following species: --Hernias villosa, Thunb., Cape of Good Hope; Traversia baccha...