1903] Fernald, — New Kobresia in the Aroostook Valley 247 
a perfectly satisfactory safeguard. On the other hand, I have recently 
learned with surprise that carbon bisulphide fumigation has been 
found ineffective in at least one herbarium of great size. ‘This leads 
to the conclusion that, whatever method is adopted, success must 
come largely from care and thoroughness in its application. The 
danger from insects must be considerably greater in old buildings, 
and reduced to a minimum in new ones of modern construction with 
concrete floors and metal shelves. In any case, scrupulous neatness 
should be maintained in the surroundings of an herbarium. No 
accumulations of dust should be allowed on tables or shelves; dust- 
filled cracks in woodwork should be sterilized; all mouldy, imper- 
fectly dried, or otherwise useless material should be promptly 
removed ; and finally special attention should be taken to prevent the 
insect life in packages of stored duplicates, etc. 
As efficient as the carbon bisulphide method has proved, its annoy- 
ance and danger are such as to stimulate investigations in other 
directions and at the suggestion of Professor W. E. Burke of the 
Engineering Department of Harvard University, some interesting 
experiments are being undertaken in the use of vacuum as a 
means of destroying insects. If it can only be demonstrated, that 
insects cannot survive in ordinary vacuum or, to speak more pre- 
cisely, in an extremely attenuated atmosphere, much may be hoped 
from such a substitute for fumigation. Surely no other penetrating 
fatal agent could combine more happily so many desirable negative 
traits, such as perfect freedom from odor, poisonous fumes, and 
bleaching action, as well as from explosive, inflammable, or other qual- 
ities likely to render the herbarium rooms disagreeable or dangerous. 
GRAY HERBARIUM. 
A NEW KOBRESIA IN THE AROOSTOOK VALLEY. 
M. L. FERNALD. 
ON June 29, 1899, the Josselyn Botanical Society of Maine spent 
the forenoon on the south bank of the Aroostook River at Fort Fair- 
field, Maine; and among other interesting plants collected by-them 
was a slender wiry sedge first noticed by Miss Mabel P. Cook near 
the little spring above the long bridge over the Aroostook River. At 
