132 REPORTS ON INV]eSTlGATlONS AND PROJECTS. 



the insect, the extent and nature of the wound, and the innate character of 

 the plant. Slow-growing species are more apt to fasciate than those of rapid 

 development. 



In the case of the fasciation from the rosette stage the injuries may be 

 made by small larvae in the soil, and usually date from the first stages of 

 germination. The development is slow, and the causes must be traced far 

 below any sign of their effect. The fasciations are ordinarily flat, but often 

 ring-shaped, and intermediate stages between the two are common. The 

 appearance of secondary meristems which later differentiate and which may 

 eventually become incorporated with the bundle ring in conjunction with the 

 alteration of the stem's shape is a frequent occurrence. 



The section of a fasciated tip shows no deviation from the normal structure 

 other than that of shape. Below the fasciated region inequalities in the 

 amount of wood formed are indicative of the early injury. 



The progeny of fasciated plants shows no more tendency to fasciation than 

 that of normal stock. Both may give an equally large percentage of fasciated 

 stems. 



An Automatic Rain-meter, by Mr. H. de Raasloff, C. B. — In the estab- 

 lishment of the various acclimatization cultures and of experimental tests 

 in various arid localities it becomes highly desirable to obtain some data 

 as to the precipitation, as well as of the soil-moisture. The latter may be 

 determined by occasional tests, but some automatic apparatus for obtaining 

 the total precipitation and registering it without the use of clockwork, which 

 could be left alone for extended intervals, is found necessary. Mr. de Raas- 

 loff has kindly volunteered to design an apparatus, which uses the weight of 

 the water secured to actuate the mechanism of measurement. A working 

 model has been constructed which is now in operation in New York, and by 

 observation of the workings of this instrument an improved form is being 

 designed which promises to meet the needs described above. 



Cooperative Work, Gifts, and Donations. — In a plan for a study of the 

 horticultural results of Mr. Luther Burbank, Dr. D. T. MacDougal visited 

 Mr. Burbank's plantations at Santa Rosa and Sebastopol late in May in 

 company with President Woodward and Dr. C. B. Davenport and Dr. G. H. 

 Shull, of the Department of Experimental Evolution. 



Mr. Godfrey Sykes, of this Department, was detailed to the Solar Obser- 

 vatory on Mount Wilson, California, beginning July i, 1906, to lay out and 

 construct a roadway from near Pasadena to the summit of the mountain, an 

 elevation of nearly 5,000 feet, and the duties in connection with this engineer- 

 ing problem detained him during the remainder of the year. 



A number of naturalists have visited the Laboratory for the purpose of 

 making observations upon organisms peculiar to the locality and to obtain 

 material for extended researches. In addition numerous calls for material 

 and assistance in collecting data have been met as fully as possible. 



