854 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



•,M;iiliial iliiniimtidii until about :? |>. in., wlu'n (he flow practically ceased. Wide 

 varialioiis are noted l)et\vecii different sugar orchards and l)et\veen the same orchard 

 in different seasons. 



The effect of tapping at different lieigiits was investigated, and the greatest amount 

 of sap, as well as the best quality, was ol^tained when the trees were tapped at a 

 height of about 4 ft. A tree tapped at 3 different levels gave 27 per cent of its sap 

 from the roots, 51 per cent at 4 ft., and 22 per cent at 14 ft. above the ground. 



Datii are appended giving the weather conditions and temperature records for the 

 seasons lSi)S-1901, details of studies on annual rings of growth, the water content of 

 trees at different dates, gas and other i)ressures, the individual records of sap flow, 

 comj>osition, I'tc. 



The maple sap flow, J. L. IIit,i.s ( Vermont Sta. Bxd. 105, pp. 195-322, figs^. 3). — 

 A popular e<lition of bulletin No. lO.S of the station noted above. 



Range conditions and range improvement, J. J. Trornber {Arizona Sta. Rpt. 

 1903, pp. 342-344). — A description is given of the range conditions of Arizona and 

 the experiments which are being conducted for range improvement. An abundant 

 rainfall during the winter caused the rapid development of the spring grazing, the 

 jirincipal species being Plantago fastigintn, alfilaria, and slender fescue. Attention is 

 called to one of the grama grasses, BouteUma rothrockii, as a desirable grass on account 

 of its drought-resisting qualities. This grass does best without any cultural opera- 

 tions, disking the surface apparently being injurious. 



During the latter part of June of the season reported upon storm- water embank- 

 ments were constructed so as to increase the area overflowed. The areas watered 

 by these dams were disked and sown with seeds of native and introduced forage 

 plants, the more important of which were Andropogon leucopogon, Fanicum texanum, 

 Bouteloua curtipendula, B. rothrockii, B. oligostachya, B. hirsuta, Sporoholus wrighlii, 

 S. strictus, S. cryptandrus, Pappophorum apertum, Ch;etochloa composita, Eriochloa 

 pwtdata, and Chloris elegans. 



The wheat grasses of Wyoming, A. and E. E. Nelson ( Wyoming Std. Bid. 59, 

 pp. 34, pU. 5, jigx. G). — An account is given of observations made on the wheat grasses 

 of Wyoming, a number of species of which are described at considerable length. 

 The.se grasses, which belong to the genus Agropyron, are among the best forage 

 grasses of the region covered by the investigation. They readily divide themselves 

 into 2 groups, those forming a dense sod and those growing in bunches. The differ- 

 ent species are found to be suitable to special conditions of soil and moisture, the 

 special adaptations of each being shown. 



Pathogenic fungi, E. Pinoy {Bui. Inst. Pastevr, 1 {1903), No. 20, j)p. 761-774, 

 figs. ij). — An attempt is made to briefly describe the morphology of many patho- 

 genic fungi and to classify them according to their botanical characters. 



FERMENTATION— BACTERIOLOGY. 



The value of tests for bacteria of specific types as an index of pollution, 

 H. W. Clark and S. DeM. Gage {Separate from. Massachusetts State Bd. Health Rpt. 

 1902, pp. 39). — The results of prolonged investigations, covering a wide field on the 

 subject of water contamination, are given. According to the authors the principal 

 types of bacteria used as indices of pollution are the colon type, the sporogenes, sew- 

 age streptococcus type, and occasionally others. The colon type, which has received 

 the most study, is most widely distributed and is of the most value as a positive in- 

 dication of sewage pollution. In the filtration of polluted water bacterial tests are 

 of mon^ value than chemical analyses. Long continued comj)ari.sons have shown 

 that the Barillns coli test is a more delicate indication of filter etficiency than the 

 tests of the total number of bacteria present in filtered and unfiltered water. 



In the examination of spring waters the degree of purity of the samples when 

 collected in a careful and proper manner is almost absolutely shown by chemical 



