122 Kansas Academy of Science. 



R. E. Buchanan published "Notes of the Algae of Iowa." 

 Colorado has two reports by G. H. Wailes and W. W. Robbins. 

 Missouri has a survey bulletin prepared by Miss Ada Hayden 

 on the ''Algae Flora of the Missouri Botanical Garden of St. 

 Louis" and a "Preliminary Check List," prepared by the 

 Englemann Botanical Club, containing about one hundred 

 and thirty-five species. Oklahoma has published no lists of 

 their algse flora. 



The work of G. N. Calkins and G. C. Whipple and others 

 have shown the marked effect that heavy growths of certain 

 genera of algae have upon the usability of drinking water. 

 In the first place, the water often is given a very disagreeable 

 odor. These odors can be classified into natural odors and those 

 of decomposition. The former are often described as aromatic 

 odors, especially for those of the Diatomaceae, grassy odors 

 for the Myxophyceae, and fishy odors for the Chlorophyceae. 

 The odors of decomposition are usually more offensive than 

 the natural odors. The Myxophyceae, when decaying, give a 

 "pig-pen" odor, Beggiatoa gives the odor of hydrogen sulphide 

 or "rotten eggs," while to some of the other genera the odor 

 of garlic, onions, etc., is ascribed. Water having these strong 

 odors also has a very disagreeable taste. The decaying vegeta- 

 tion often gives the water in addition a yellowish-brown color, 

 making it unattractive and in some cases unfit for use, even 

 for washing purposes. Besides this trouble with odors, tastes 

 and color, the algal forms do much damage in clogging the 

 filters and decreasing the length of run quite materially. The 

 diatoms and other unicellular forms cause the most trouble 

 because of the dense mat which they are able to form over the 

 top of the sand. The filamentous algse, which grow erect upon 

 the sand, do not thus clog the filter, but, on the contrary, they 

 prevent clogging to some extent by their waving threads. 

 However, when these forms decay they too settle to the bottom 

 and block the filter. Another danger to the filter is due to the 

 release of gas by these plant forms, which at times is suffi- 

 cient to cause great masses of the mat to rise, thus exposing 

 the sand so that the water filters through it much more rapidly 

 than it should to give efficient results in the tap water. . 



The elimination of the algae from the filters can be accom- 

 plished by covering them, since these plants can live only in 

 the light. The eradication of the algae from the reservoirs 



