NOTES ASTD NEWS. 45 



merited recognition of the service be has rendered that institu- 

 tion during the past few years. 



At the recent meeting of the American Association for the 

 Advancement of Science, two grants of a hundred dolhtrs each 

 were made to be expended under the directions of the committee 

 on the relation of plants to climate. Prof. F. E. Clements, of 

 the University of Nebraska, receives $100.00 to be used in carry- 

 ing on his field work in Colorado, and Dr. J. Arthur Harris, of 

 the Missouri Botanical Garden, $100.00 to be used in carrying 

 on measurements in his study on Influence of C^limatic Factors 

 upon Variability of Plants. The committee in question has been 

 in existence since 1900. 



Prof. (). \V. (^ddwell, of the State Xornial School at 

 ( harleston, 111., has gone to Cuba to collect embryological mate- 

 rial of Microci/cds wliicli has recently been re-discovered by Prof. 

 C. F. Baker. The existence of this genus has been problem- 

 atical almost since it was originally described, and the find has 

 awakened much interest since it is probaldy the only near rela- 

 tive of Cijcas in America. Dr. Caldwell has made two trips to 

 the island previously in search of material of this plant. It may 

 be expected to furnish much valuable evidence as to the origin 

 and relationships of the interesting group to which it belongs. 



The importance of the Panama hat industry to the Pepublic 

 of Ecuador is apparent from the following figures, extracted 

 from the Consular Report for the years 1899-1905, showing the 

 value of the exports for the last six years: 1900, £32,748 ; 1901, 

 £37,956; 1902, £68,010; 1903, £70,107; 1904, £88,670; 1905, 

 £125,512. 



It will be seen that in the period under review the exports 

 have increased enormously in value; the quantity has likewise 

 increased. It is stated that the fashion of wearing Panama 

 hats in Europe has advanced at such gigantic strides as to render 

 the native labor unable to keep pace with the demand. 



An interesting account of the manufacture of these hats ap- 

 ]3eared in the Agricultural News, Vol. Ill, p. 310. published by 

 the British Imperial Government at Barbados. 



