BOTANY. 327 



aldehyde, or formalin, as a germicide for the prevention of potato scab 

 is reported upon, and the preliminary trials were of a very promising 

 character. All the tests gave results that warrant the belief that for- 

 malin is a satisfactory preventive means for potato scab. A full report 

 on these experiments is to be published as a bulletin. 



The effect of various forms of phosphates on the growth of roses was 

 determined and will be reported upon in bulletin form. 



The author's studies on corn smut were continued from the previous 

 year, and the results are being arranged for publication. 



Brief mention is made of a carnation disease which has already been 

 reported upon in Bulletin No. 59 of the station (E. S. R., 8, p. 235). 



Experiments were conducted during the winter of 1895-96 in forcing 

 lettuce, in which the best ways of feeding, watering, and handling the 

 plant were studied. The work is being repeated with certain modifica- 

 tions and will be a subject for future publication. 



Considerable time has been devoted to gathering data relative to the 

 occurrence and spread of weeds throughout the State. 



Description of the equipment of the station, of the greenhouses, etc., 

 are given. 



Inoculation experiments with Nitragin, D. Dickson and L. Mal- 

 peaux (Jour. Agr. Prat., 61 {1897)), IT, No. 31, pp. 191-197, Jigs. 2).— 

 The description of the work is preceded by a brief description of Nitra- 

 gin and allusions to other investigators and their work. 



Inoculation experiments were made with white lupine and crimson 

 clover grown in sterile sand and white lupine and hairy vetch grown in 

 forest soil. The experiments were made in pots and were partly dupli- 

 cated in the open field, but on different soil. The Nitragin in some 

 cases was applied to the seed and in others to the soil. 



The inoculations were more effective in the sandy soil than in soils 

 richer in nitrogen. The authors believe that long-cultivated, fertile 

 soils contain the nitrogen- fixing bacteria in sufficient numbers for the 

 growth of legumes without special inoculation. It is stated that good 

 effects from inoculation may be expected of newly broken acid soils 

 which contain insufficient nitrogen-appropriating bacteria and of soils 

 in which inoculation has already rendered some service. Inoculation 

 of the soil gave better results than inoculation of the seed. 



American grasses, F. Lamson-Scribner ( U. S. Dept. Agr., Dirision of Agros- 

 tology Bui. 7, pp. 331, figs. 302). — An illustrated bulletin deseribiug 302 species of 

 North American grasses. The prominent characteristics, habitat, distribution, and 

 time of flowering of each species arc given. The order of Graminese and the tribes 

 into which the order is divided are briefly characterized. 



General report of the botanical survey of the Coeur d'Alene Mountains in 

 Idaho during the summer of 1895, J. B. Leiberg (Contributions from the United 

 States National Herbarium, vol. 5, 1897, No. 1, pp. 85, map 1). — The author gives his 

 itinerary, describes the topography, drainage, and climate of the country, and dis- 

 cusses its agricultural and forest resources, and the utilization of its water supply. 

 Under forest resources, the author describes the condition of 14 species of evergreens 



