DEPARTMENT OF BOTANICAL RESEARCH, dy 



ety of Storage forms and true mesophytic species burst into bloom. Desert 

 grasses, spiny shrubs, barrel-cacti, quickly moving annuals, and a wide variety 

 of forms begin the formation of fruits which in most instances carry their 

 maturing processes well into the arid after-summer, at the end of which time 

 the total heat exposure for the year has reached the enormous total of 325,385 

 hour-degree units. The total precipitation for the year is about 12 inches. 

 This region has probably had an arid climate at least since Pleistocene times, 

 and the vegetation of the wet winter season may well consist of the lineal 

 descendants of the original water-loving flora. The forms active at other 

 seasons, however, must be of more recent origin, and must have originated 

 within or near the present distribution pattern of the separate species. In 

 some deserts but little xerophytic vegetation is known, the prevalent forms 

 being those which are active only in the seasons of maximum precipitation. 



COOPERATIVE ARRANGEMENTS. 



The successful operation of a large number of plans for cooperation be- 

 tween members of the staff and other workers is to be recorded. In many 

 instances effort and expenditure far beyond the customary exchange of cour- 

 tesies with other institutions were involved. 



Travel. — Mr. F. J. Johnson, of Chicago, furnished funds by means of 

 which Dr. and Mrs. B. E. Livingston have spent the entire year in visiting 

 various laboratories in Europe, for the purpose of examining apparatus, col- 

 lecting literature, and carrying on extensive experiments at Munich, where 

 ample facilities were placed at their disposal by Prof. K. Goebel, director 

 of the botanical garden. 



Chemical Analyses. — Prof. R. H. Forbes and Prof. H. H. Ross, in contin- 

 uation of previous work, have made the annual detailed analysis of the water 

 of the Salton Sea, together with various minor analyses, all of which have 

 entailed lengthy attention. 



Branch Laboratory at Carniel. — The Carmel Development Company has 

 set aside a small building in Carmel, California, for the use of Dr. W. A. 

 Cannon in the continuation of his work on the anatomy of hybrids. The fit- 

 tings and equipment provided have made this one of the most efficient branch 

 laboratories of the Department. The demonstration of the suitability of this 

 locality for works in various lines during the summer months suggests the 

 advisability of continuing this arrangement. 



Material for Bcological Work. — The Department of Botany of the Univer- 

 sity of Kansas was given the use of the facilities of the Desert Laboratory 

 for the purpose of securing photographs, anatomical material, and notes for 

 work in ecolog}^ in that institution. Mr. L. M. Peace, assistant in botany, 

 was in residence for the purpose in question during July and August, 1908. 



