264 proceedings: botanical society 



THE BOTANICAL SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON 



The 86th regular meeting was held at the Cosmos Club, February 

 4, 1913. 



The following were elected to membership: Prof. R. Kent Beattie, 

 Dr. Charles Brooks^ Mr. J. G. Grossenbacher and Dr. Neil E. Stevens. 



The following program was presented: Mr. T. H. Kearney: Indicator 

 value of natural vegetation in the Tooele Valley, Utah. The Tooele Valley 

 lies between the Oquirrh and Stansbury ranges and extends to the 

 south shore of Great Salt Lake. It was found that the valley is occupied 

 by some half dozen principal plant associations, each of which is charac- 

 terized by the presence of one, or, at most, two dominant species of 

 shrubs or perennial herbs. The presence of one or another association 

 was found to be closely indicative of the moisture relations and salt 

 content of the soil. The areas occupied by the different associations are 

 often so sharply defined as to be recognizable at a distance of several miles 



The presence of a good stand and growth of sage brush {Artemisia, 

 tridentata) is always associated with a soil of rather light texture, very 

 dry during the summer months, free from alkali salts, and with a low 

 water table. This Artemisia association occupies mainl}^ the higher 

 lands of the valley. Descending the valley toward the shore of Great 

 Salt Lake, successive zones are traversed which are occupied by the 

 following associations: (2) Kochia vestita, (3) Atriplex confertifolia 

 (Shadscale), (4) Atriplex confertifolia and Sarcohatiis vermicidatus 

 (Greasewood), (5) Allenrolfea occidentalis, (6) Distichlis spicata (Salt 

 Grass) and two species of Salicomia. 



Where associations 2 and 3 occur the soil is very dry during the sum- 

 mer, but has a higher moisture capacity than in the Artemisia association 

 and the sub-soil is strongly saline. Under association 4 the soil becomes 

 saline to the surface and the ground water table is relatively high. 

 Associations 5 and 6 occupy the wet and highly saline soils near the 

 level of the water surface of the lake and are interrupted by bare ex- 

 panses covered with a crust of salts (chiefly sodium chloride). 



The suitability for crop production of the different types of land in 

 this valley can be predicted with much confidence from the character 

 of the native growth. 



Mr. Harry B. Shaw: The control of seed production in beets. Prac- 

 tically all sugar-beets seed used in the United States is imported. Suc- 

 cessful attempts have been made in Utah, Idaho and Washington States 

 to produce sugar beet seed, but in other regions such attempts have not 

 been very successful, inasmuch as many of the plants have failed to 

 mature seed. Observations were made to ascertain the cause of this. 

 In order to make the subject readily comprehensible attention was 

 invited to the surprising responsiveness of the beet to environment 



In these varied manifestations was sought a common factor, or group 

 of factors, which acting at a critical period in the life of the plant, 

 might be found to control the manner of its development. Experi- 

 ments were carried on in Utah during 1912 to determine, if possible, the 

 nature of the conditions responsible for the variations mentioned. 



