lar, natural phenomena the reason for which can only be a matter of conjecture."

The American Phytopathological Society calls attention to "two dangerous European plant diseases: the potato wart, caused by Chrysophlyotis endobiotica Schilb., and the blister rust of white pine, caused by Peridermium strobi Klebahn. The former has been discovered in Newfoundland. The latter has been widely distributed in nine of the United States and in the Province of Ontario, but is now believed to have been eradicated." The Society regrets that through the absence of any national regulation in either the United States or Canada both governments are powerless to prevent the continued introduction of these and other dangerous diseases, or their transference from one country to the other; and promises to support all legislation in both the United States and Canada looking toward the inspection, quarantine, or prohibition from entry of all plant material liable to introduce these or other dangerous diseases or pests. The Society feels the need of immediate action, as "every law of biology and all experiences with plant diseases and pests indicate that, in a new climate, with new varietal and specific hosts and with an entire continent in which to spread, both diseases will reach a degree of virulence unknown in Europe."

The Outlook for November 19 gives the Forest Service "estimate of the loss in the National Forests in Montana and Idaho due to the fires and hurricane of August 26 last. The estimate puts the total amount of destroyed timber at over six billion board feet, or between one and two per cent. of the total stand of National Forest timber, the area burned over exceeding one and a quarter million acres. This announcement has caused caustic comment by the opponents of the Federal administration of forests. Some attempt has been made to connect the matter with the 'New Nationalism', as showing that there is no necessity for such an issue of centralization. Apparently, in the minds of these critics, the fires would not have occurred if the forests had been State and not National Forests!" Drought, the quan

tity of inflammable material, the inaccessible character of the country, and unusually high winds all added to the difficulties faced by the not incompetent but inadequate forest service. A much larger sum should immediately be appropriated by Congress for this work.

NEWS ITEMS

L. H. Pennington, instructor at Northwestern University, has recently been made assistant professor of botany at Syracuse University.

The annual meeting of the American Society of Naturalists will be held (Dec. 28-30) at Cornell University. Dr. D. T. MacDougal will deliver the presidential address.

A drinking fountain, the memorial to Dr. James Fletcher mentioned some months ago in TORREYA, has been erected at the Central Experiment Farm, Canada.

Professor W. A. Henry, professor emeritus of agriculture of the University of Wisconsin, is planning to spend a year investigating agriculture in Europe.

Dr. William A. Cannon of the Desert Laboratory of the Carnegie Institution is spending a year abroad, visiting European botanical gardens and African deserts.

Dr. W. A. Murrill, of the New York Botanical Garden, has just returned from a European trip taken primarily to examine type specimens of fungi.

Dr. Ormond S. Butler (Ph.D. Cornell, 1910) has been appointed instructor in horticulture at the College of Agriculture of the University of Wisconsin and the Wisconsin Agricultural Experiment Station.

Letchworth Park, the thousand acre park given conditionally to the state of New York in 1907, became the possession of the State upon the death of the donor, William Pryor Letchworth, on December 1.

The sixty-second meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, and the ninth of the "Convocation

week" meetings, will be held in Minneapolis, December 27 to 31, 1910, at the invitation of the University of Minnesota. The Botanical Society of America and various affiliated societies meet as usual at the same time. Owing to Professor Penhallow's death, Section G will convene under Vice-president R. A. Harper. Further information may be obtained from the permanent secretary, Dr. L. O. Howard, or from the secretary of Section G, H. C. Cowles, University of Chicago.

In the Brooklyn Institute prospectus for 1910-1911 two courses of lectures are announced in botany. They are given by Dr. C. Stuart Gager, the director of the new Brooklyn Botanic Garden. The first is a series of ten illustrated lectures on plant physiology given on Saturday mornings beginning October 15, but omitting November 26, December 26, and 31. The course will deal with modern views and interpretations of various fundamental life processes of plants. The second course is on the teaching of botany, and will be given on Saturday mornings beginning on March 4, but omitting April 5. This is intended primarily for teachers (including teachers of nature work) and those intending to teach. Readings will be assigned in the literature of the pedagogy of botany, and a comprehensive bibliography may be secured. All the lectures begin at ten o'clock, are open to teachers in the public and private schools, and will be held in the Brooklyn Academy of Music.

INDEX TO VOLUME X

New names and the names of new generaand species are printed in
boldface type.