A distinguished Canadian botanist pleasantly writes: "The Gardeners' Monthly for January has come to hand, and I have looked through it with interest. You must do an immense amount of periodical reading, and correspondence, to get so much news into it. Your article on rapid changes in species reminds me of a procumbent, rooting, Œnothera, which I received from Edin-burg in 1871. It has been propagated from the root only (not by seed - Ed. G. M.), and is now undistinguishable from (E. fruticosa, which is native with us, and which I planted in the same border. I am sorry to see the announcement of the death of my old friend Mr. George Sterling, in whose collection, when I was a student in Edin-burg, I often found rare Swiss and other Alpines that could not be obtained elsewhere. So many of my old friends, as Dr. Neill, Dr. Greville, Dr. Balfour, Mr. McNab, of that time, have passed away. We who are left are now entering on a new year; let us work hopefully, ready to complete our time-circle, and prepared, as well as may be, for the higher state".