298 



ingly important contribution to geographical botany, and the 

 thanks of botanists arc due Dr. Bcsscy and Mr. Webber for the 

 labor and care of its preparation. N. L. B, 



Report of the Botanical Department of the Experiment Station, 



Kansas State Agricultural College, for the Year 1889. W. 



A. Kellerman and W. T. Swingle. (Reprint, pp. 213-364, 



from 2d Ann. Rep. Exp. Sta.). 



This paper consists of (i) Report on the Loose Smuts of 

 Cereals, containing detailed descriptions of Ustilago Avemr, U. 

 Tritici, U. Hordei d.nd U. nnda, illustrated by nine plates. Com- 

 prehensive tables of synonymy of these four closely allied species 

 are given. (2) Experiments in Crossing Varieties of Corn, includ- 

 ding a bibliography of the subject (3) Preliminary Study of the 

 Receptivity of Corn Silk. 



Results of a Biological Survey of the San Francisco Mountain 

 Region and Desert of the Little Colorado in Arizona. C. Hart 

 Merriam. (North Am. Fauna No. 3, U. S. Dcpt. Agric. 

 Divn. Ornithol. and Mammal, Pamph. 8vo. pp. 136, illus- 

 trated. Washington, D.C., Sept. 11, 1890). 

 Several important botanical contributions are to be found in 

 this publication. Under the heading ** Remarks on the geo- 

 graphic distribution of species characteristic of the several zones 

 of the San P^rancisco mountain region in Arizona ** are lists of 

 plants found respectively on the sumniit, sub-alpine or timber line 

 zone, (Central) Hudsonian or Spruce zone, (Central) Canadian or 

 Balsam Fir zone, Neutral or Pine zone, and Piilon zone of the 

 mountains. Also a short account of the flora of the Desert of the 

 Little Colorado below. In regard to the origin of the boreal 

 flora of the mountains the author accepts the theory that during 

 the recession of the ice in glacial times these plants were left 

 stranded and as the temperature became warmer and warmer they 

 ascended the mountain until they found a temperature which 

 suited their needs. The desert flora is supposed to have come by 

 way of the Grand Canon of the Colorado from the deserts of 

 western Arizona — a theory whicli only an intimate acquaintance 

 with the physical features of the region can criticise. Brief notes 

 upon some of the botanical features of the Grand Canon are also 

 given. Finally a list of the forest trees is appended, which 



