50 KANSAS ACADEMY OF SCIENCE. 



3d, Defective meridian marks. This is probably the most frequent and 

 troublesome cause of error. As a rule, county surveyors are not supposed 

 to be adepts in astronomical operations, and the determination of a true 

 meridian at any point is based on essentially astronomical observations. To 

 do it well, the observer must not only have the knowledge, but must also be 

 provided with suitable instruments — a good' time-keeper, and a transit in- 

 strument so arranged that the cross-hairs can be made visible at night. A 

 solar compass is a good instrument for the purpose, but is not generally con- 

 sidered as reliable as a portable astronomical transit. 



I have no doubt that some way can be devised by which a competent per- 

 son could be engaged to set up correct and permanent meridian marks at 

 each county seat. At present, I do not know just how such an arrangement 

 can be made. Until some such step is taken, these reports, required by law, 

 and, if well taken, of great use to the landed interests of the State, and of 

 value in the scientific discussion of magnetic phenomena, will remain of com- 

 paratively little importance. 



BOTANICAL NOTES FROM THE SOUTHWEST. 



BY B. B. SMYTH. 



The studies herein contained were made in Barton and other counties of 

 southwestern Kansas, along the line of the Santa Fe Railroad, from 1874 to 

 1880. 



During the spring months, there is no place more beautiful or interesting 

 to the passer-by or the botanist than the prairies of the southwest. The 

 abundance, beauty and size of many of the flowers causes certain spots to 

 rival some of the showy Eastern flower gardens. A study of these plants 

 and flowers is not without attending difficulties. Very many of the plants 

 are different from those growing east of the Mississippi, and are not described 

 in the Botanies of Wood or Gray. A Synopsis of the Flora of Colorado, 

 by Porter & Coulter, contains many plants of western Kansas; though there 

 are still others of which descriptions are not readily attainable. I am under 

 obligations to Prof. J. H. Carruth, of Lawrence, State Botanist, also to Prof. 

 Wood, of New York, for the determination of many plants of which no de- 

 scription is at hand. 



In March, there are two plants, besides a little carex three inches high, 

 that open their blossoms, sometimes partly under the snow. One is a little 

 wild parsnip, three inches high, with umbels of very small, white, fragrant 

 flowers. It is said to he Peucedanum nudieuule, though the plant differs from 

 the description in the following repects: the name nudicaule indicates a naked 

 stem, while the plant is well covered with leaves half-way up the stem, and tha,- 



