March, 1902.] Proposed Algological Survey of Ohio, 219 



PROPOSED ALGOLOGICAL SURVEY OF OHIO. 



W. A. KELLERMAN. 



I^ittle or no attention has been paid to the Ohio Algse, except 

 by a few persons in a few localities, and it is therefore proposed 

 that botanists, collectors and amateurs, unite in an effort to make 

 known, the coming^ season, the character and distribution of our 

 State Algological flora. To this end all who may be interested — 

 and it is hoped this number will include persons in every county 

 in Ohio — and are willing to make observations and contributions 

 are invited to .send specimens for examination to the Botanical 

 Department, Ohio State University. Mr. W. W. Stockberger of 

 Denison Universit}-, Granville, will assist in working up the 

 material and tabulating the results. If the suggestions here are 

 not ample, interested parties are requested to send letters of 

 inquiry. 



Many media or .solutions for temporarily preserving Algae have 

 been recommended — such as a weak solution of carbolic acid, two 

 per cent, solution of formalin, Riport and Petit's solution, one 

 per cent, solution of chrome-alum, and camphor water (small 

 piece of gum camphor in water) — but we have concluded that 

 nothing is better than a tiny drop of carljolic acid in the vial of 

 water containing the Alga. 



Homeopathic vials, or still better, shell vials, say two drachm 

 capacity, with cork stoppers, will be found suitable, and large 

 enough in most cases to contain ample material. Slender forceps 

 are very convenient for securing the Algae and placing them in 

 the bottles, though subtle fingers must never be underrated in 

 natural history work. It is desirable that the collector note the 

 habitat of each species taken and add any other notes that might 

 suggest themselves for record. 



Numbers could be written with ink on the cork stopper, but it 

 is preferable to u.se paper attached to the vials. A sheet of 

 gummed paper can be obtained at any book store and this cut in 

 narrow and short strips will be found most convenient. A con- 

 tinuous or serial numbering ought to be adopted by every one 

 who sends material. No number should ever be repeated in 

 sending natural history specimens of any kind, and the collector 

 should always keep a record of the numbers, with notes of habits, 

 localities, etc. If reports are desired on the material sent to the 

 vState Harbarium, the}' will be made, and reference to specimens 

 will always be by number. 



Such specimens may be sent by mail, but only when enclosed 

 in a box so as to prevent them from being crushed and thereby 

 endangering other mail matter. The rate of postage is one cent 

 per ounce. The name and address of the sender should be written 



