BOTANY. 131 



product by mercuric sulphate, the precipitate being collected, dried, and weighed, 

 or, preferably, dissolved in hydrochloric acid and the mercury determined volumet- 

 rically in the solution. 



Determination of dirt in milk, M. Ballo (Oesterr. Chem. Ztg., 7 (1904), No. 5, 

 pp. 101, 102).— The milk is filtered through tine bolting cloth previously moistened 

 with water, the dirt is washed with water and with alcohol and ether, and trans- 

 ferred to a weighing dish and weighed. 



The strength of commercial formaldehyde, E. F. Ladd (North Dakota Sta.. 

 Iij>t. 1903, pp. 35, 36). — An examination of a number of samples of commercial for- 

 maldehyde showed that the strength was frequently below the standard of 40 per 

 cent. 



The adulteration of drugs, L. F. Kebler ( U. S. Dcpt. Agr. Yearbook 1903, pp. 

 251-258). — The author cites early instances of the adulteration of drugs, and dis- 

 cusses factors affecting the quality of drugs, importance of purity of drugs, extent 

 and nature of adulteration, and the progress being made in the investigation of 

 drugs and the establishment of standards. 



Report of the State chemist of Florida, 1903, R. E. Rose (Florida Mo. Bui., 

 Dept. Agr., 13 ( 1904), No. 89, pp. 71). — This report deals mainly with the results of 

 fertilizer inspection during 1903, but contains also analyses of miscellaneous sub- 

 stances, foods, waters, ores, etc. 



BOTANY. 



Report of the botanist, H. L. Bolley (North Dakota Sta. Rpt. 1903, pp. 42-58, 

 jig. 1) . — A report is given of the condition < if the department of botany, its equipment 

 and work, particular attention being called to the test of native and other grasses, 

 studies of elevator samples of wheat, the adulteration of formaldehyde and formalde- 

 hyde treatment of grains, flax studies, particularly the treatment of flax wilt, and 

 some physiological experiments with trees. 



The grass studies, which were begun in cooperation with this Department, were 

 not fully carried out on account of the inability of the station to provide the neces- 

 sary funds, but the preliminary investigations showed that meadow fescue, rough 

 fescue, western brome, and short-awned brome grasses, under the adverse conditions 

 of the experiment, were of particular value for the State. From the studies made 

 with elevator samples of wheat it is apparent that the average dockage for weed seed, 

 dirt, etc., is considerably higher. than the investigation showed necessary. Com- 

 plaints are mentioned of the failure of the formaldehyde treatment of seed grains for 

 the prevention of smut and this failure is laid to the use of adulterated or weak solu- 

 tions of formaldehyde. 



The experiments for the control of flax wilt have been continued and investiga- 

 tions are in progress by which it is hoped to discover strains of flax immune to the 

 fungus. In connection with these investigations it has been found that the fungus 

 remains in the soil for a longer period than hitherto supposed, and in connection 

 with it is associated an undescribed species of Colletotrichum. This phase of the 

 investigation is to be the subject for a future publication. 



The physiological experiments with trees consisted of an attempt to stimulate 

 the tree to growth or to render it less subject to disease through the artificial feeding 

 of the tree by means of liquid solutions injected into the trunks. These investi- 

 gations have not been carried on sufficiently to establish any positive conclusions, 

 but a number of factors have been determined, among others— under similar con- 

 ditions a tree seems to feed at about a uniform rate day or night; the rate is influ- 

 enced by atmospheric temperature, moisture, water supply in the soil, strength of 

 solution applied, etc. Trees vary in their rate of feeding with regard to variety and 

 the natural growth, size, etc. Chemical substances are carried to the utmost parts 

 of trees in a few hours, substances being detected within 10 hours in the topmost 



