DEPARTMENT OF BOTANICAL RESEARCH. 53 



The winter temperatures of air and water and the time and amounts of rain 

 have varied rather surprisingly; the times of appearance, the distribution, 

 and the behavior of the organisms have varied correspondingly. Whereas 

 the behavior of an established land flora in the temperate zone varies mainly 

 with the temperatures of air and soil, the behavior of the brine-flora under 

 examination varies mainly with the concentration of the brine. This con- 

 centration depends principally upon two factors : the winter rainfall and the 

 summer clearness and dryness of the air. An abundant rainfall so dilutes 

 the sea-water with which the brine-ponds (salterns) are filled that the char- 

 acteristic brine organisms are late in making their appearance in the salterns ; 

 on the other hand, they may make a more or less luxuriant growth during 

 the winter on the surface of the heaps of salt stored in the open for ship- 

 ment. Late rains, falling without much wind upon the already somewhat 

 concentrated brines, form a shallow layer of fresh or brackish water on the 

 surface, driving the motile organisms downward, with great mortality, and 

 delaying their reappearance on the surface until diffusion and evaporation 

 have made a fairly homogeneous brine once more. 



As the brine is not clear, the absorption of light is very great, and the 

 photosynthetic activities of the chlorophyll-containing organisms are cor- 

 respondingly interfered with. It would be interesting to know the relative 

 depths to which diffused and direct sunlight and its component rays pene- 

 trate these and other waters ; for obviously these factors also must greatly 

 affect the behavior of the independent organisms inhabiting fresh and salt 

 waters. Unfortunately the photometry of colored lights has not yet reached 

 a stage in which it can be applied to a study of these organisms. 



Although these brines are rich in organic matter, the difficulties of inor- 

 ganic analysis are so great that it has been impossible to secure an organic 

 analysis. Many of the brine organisms are more or less completely sapro- 

 phytic, but it has been impossible to determine their relations to the organic 

 components of the brines. The usual technique of physics, chemistry, and 

 biology is not adequate for a satisfactory treatment of these extraordinary 

 organisms, living under what may be called fatal conditions. 



The Floral Elements of the Salton Region, by S. B. Parish. 



A brief study of the vegetation of the Salton Sink has been made by Mr. 

 Parish in order to determine the biological setting of the newly formed lake. 

 This work has been extended to take into account the species which have 

 been introduced by the agricultural operations in the southern part of the 

 basin. Details have been obtained as to the species which have come into 

 the basin by the current of the Colorado River, and some of the main fea- 

 tures of dissemination of the forms which would be competitors for the 

 occupation of the emersed lands have been ascertained. 



