328 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



deposit' is pumped forward into the septic tanlcs ; the deposit in tlie septic 

 taiilkS is reduced to an inodorous bunius mass by bacterial activity ; and at 

 intervals of about seven weelvs or so the inodorous septic sludge is pumped 

 upon adjoining lands, covering the same to a depth of some 8 to 10 in. . . . 

 By absorption and evaporation the loss of water causes this sludge to be reduced 

 to somewhat less than half its original buUc, and there results a fairly dry 

 mass which thus far has been of little service for purpose of cultivation." 



Rye gave unsatisfactory results on soil treated with sludge in the manner 

 described. Italian rye grass gave better results. In black soil mixed with an 

 equal amount of the sludge about one-third of various garden seeds germinated, 

 but did not mature. " It was therefore quite clear that it was a mistalce to 

 run so much sludge on the surfate of the land at one time, and in sul)sequent 

 working not more than half the amount of sludge has been jjut on the surface 

 of the ground, with far more satisfactory results." 



AGRICULTURAL BOTANY. 



Flora of the State of Washington, C. V. Piper (U. S. ^al. .l/».s'., Contrih. 

 Nat. Herbarium, 11, pp. 637, pis. 22, iiiai> 1). — An account is given of the flora 

 of the State of Washington, based upon the author's study of the plants of that 

 State during a period of 20 years. 



The principal aim in the work is to present a summary of our present knowl- 

 edge of the vascular plants of Washington and to call attention to some of the 

 more important taxonomic and ecological problems which are disclosed. The 

 author describes the early botanical explorations of Washington, and gives an 

 account of the physiography, geology, and climate of the State, after which he 

 discusses the distribution of plants and gives an account of regions of peculiar 

 botanical interest. Following this an annotated catalogue of the species of vas- 

 cular plants of Washington is given, and an extended bibliography and index 

 completes the publication. 



Absorption of atmospheric moisture by desert shrubs, V. M. Spalding 

 (Bill. ToiTcij Bot. Cluh, 33 {IDOO. Vo. 7, pp. 367-375) .—The author has b?en 

 led to investigate the subject of the absorption of water directly from the 

 atmosphere by leaves and other aerial parts of plants, and in the present paper 

 gives a sunnnary of his investigations. 



It is found that of 12 species of desert perennials subjected to experiment all 

 exhil)ited some slight capacity for direct absorption of water from the atmos- 

 phere, but in general the amount absorbed is very insignificant in comparison 

 with that given off in corresponding periods in dry air. So far as the observa- 

 tions go, there appears to be no evidence that the quantities of water so 

 absorbed are utilized in the body of tlie iilant. The rapidity with which the 

 water thus absorbed is returned to the atmosphere suggests that the process 

 is a physical one and of no physiological significance. 



This investigation seems to show that the roots of desert plants constitute 

 their only reliable active agent in providing a normal water supply. 



The relation of desert plants to soil moisture and to evapoi'ation, B. E. 

 IjIvinoston (Curiicgic lust. WdsJihifitoii PiiJi. '>(). pp. 7S. fli/s. 16). — Studies 

 were carried on at the desert laboratory of the Carnegie Institution, which is 

 located near Tucson, Ariz., with reference to the relation between certain 

 desert plants and their physical environment. The studies recorded are the 

 results of an attempt to determine some facts in regard to the minimum water 

 supply with which desert plants can thrive. 



After discussing the relation of the soil and atmosphere the author takes 



