AGRICULTURAL BOTANY. 525 



soil coiitaiuing Thomas slag 104, and from soil containing calcium superphos- 

 phate 492. 



Mineral resources of the United States, calendar year 1906, D. T. Day 

 KT. AL. [U. 8. (Icol. tiurvvii, l!)01\ pp. t-i(n\ fi(/s. 2). — This is the usual detailed 

 report on this subject. The chapter of greatest agricultural interest is that 

 ri'lating to phosphates, a preliminary summary of which has already been 

 noted (E. S. K., 10, p. 422). 



Regarding' the future of the guano industry and the guano-producing 

 birds of Peru, II. E. Cokkr {BoI. AJin. Fomcnto [Peru], Dir. Fomento, 6 (1908), 

 Xo. -J, pp. 25-SJi; Science, ii. scr., 2S (J'.)08), No. 706, pp. 58-6Jj ; Anicr. Frrt., 

 29 (1908), Nos. Ij, pp. 10-12; J, pp. 20-22, fifj. /).— This paper is substantially 

 a reprint of a report recently submitted to the Peruvian Government. It 

 describes briefly the past exploitation and present status of this industry and 

 suggests methods by which it may be saved from entire destruction. It is 

 explained that the present system of exploitation results in the continual dis- 

 tiu'bance and gradual extermination of the birds which produce the guano. It 

 is believed that this may be corrected to some extent by placing the extraction 

 of guano in the hands of a single company, and providing for a I'otatiou in the 

 working of the dejxisits and a closed season with increased protection for the 

 birds. 



Production and extraction of guano, R. E. Coker {Mem. Dir. Fomento 

 [Pcni], l<J07-8, vols. 1, pp. Will, XVIY, pi. 1 ; 2, pp. 5-30, pis. 6).— This is the 

 full text of the report referred to in the above abstract. 



Utilization of wrack, A. Swalm {Daily Consular and Trade Rpts. [U. S.], 

 1908, Xo. 3171, pp. (), 7). — A brief note regarding the use of seaweed as a ferti- 

 lizer and for the manufacture of iodin on the Island of Jersey and the south 

 coast of England. 



City household garbage, L. Danger {IUus. Landw. Ztg., 28 (1908), No, 87, 

 pp. 327, 328). — The composition, fertilizing value, and methods of using this 

 material are discussed. Raw garbage is considered of little value or even may 

 be positively injurious as a fertilizer. When treated, as is done in the garbage 

 works of Altona, near Hamburg, by careful sorting, the fine garbage has con- 

 siderable fertilizing value, comparing favorably with bai'nyard manure. 



Utilization of household wastes, Rocher (Bui. Soc. Xat. Agr. France, 68 

 (1908), Xo. 3, pp. I'i7-163). — Incineration, grinding, and other methods of 

 handling garbage are discussed and methods employed by various municipalities 

 are briefly described. Incineration is condemned. Grinding as practiced at 

 the Vitry factory is recommended because of the value of the products ob- 

 tained, viz, from 100 tons of raw garbage 80 to 85 tons of inodorous fertilizer 

 equal in value to farmyard manure and 1.5 to 20 tons of waste valuable as fuel. 



Apparatus and transportation appliances for utilizing and handling dead 

 animals and slaughterhouse refuse, Frankei, et al. (Arb. Deut. Landw. 

 (Ic.scll., 1908, Xo. 139, pp. 1.19, figs. 3.5).— This article deals in detail with the 

 mechanical construction and operation of the apparatus and apiiliances. the 

 handling of tlie liquid wastes, value of the products, and adaptability and 

 selection of the apparatus. x\n appendix gives the police regulations adopted in 

 connection with the Dieburg establishment. 



AGRICULTURAL BOTANY. 



The physiology of stomata, F. p]. Lloyd (Carnegie Inst. Washington Pub. 

 82, pp. 1)2. pis. I'l, figs. .'iO).—\ study was made of 2 types of desert plants 

 (Fouf/iiicria sidcndciis and Vvrbiiia ciliata) to determine some facts relating 

 to the physiology of stomata. Neither of these plants has any special stomatal 



