Semi-Centennial Volume. 143 



HISTORICAL. 



The study of the microorganisms in water has gone hand in hand 

 with the development of the compound microscope, dating back to the 

 seventeenth century. In 1850, Doctor Hassall of London first called at- 

 tention to the fact that these organisms have a sanitary/ significance in 

 drinking water. In 1887, the first systematic examination of the water 

 supplies in this country was made by the Massachusetts State Board of 

 Health. This work has been continued up to the present time. During 

 this period surveys of the algae of the water supplies have been made in 

 several states preliminary to the practical work of the sanitary engi- 

 neers. 



The first data upon the algae found in Kansas was published in 

 September, 1884, in a bulletin of the Washburn Laboratory of Natural 

 History. This list of twelve species was identified by the Rev. Francis 

 Wolle of Bethlehem, Pa., and was incorporated in the Biological Survey 

 v/hich Francis W. Cragin, professor of natural history, was conducting 

 at Washburn college. In January, 1885, a second list was published 

 containing thirteen new species and additional localities for species re- 

 ported in the first list. In July, 1886, a third list was published con- 

 taining five new species and a paragraph on the methods of collecting 

 algae to be sent in to the laboratory for identification. The final list 

 in January, 1889, was on the Diatomacese of the sand from a brook 

 near Arlington, Reno county. Twenty-three species of eleven different 

 genera were listed. In 1911, Prof. B. B. Smyth, curator of the Kansas 

 Museum of Natural History, announced the preparation of a catalogue 

 of the algae to complete his list of the plants of the state. This plan 

 was left unrealized by his death in 191-3. At the University several 

 lists have been prepared which I am compiling for publication as a 

 preliminary survey of the algae of Kansas. At present the four papers 

 by Wolle, containing the names and localities of fifty-three species of 

 algae, include all of the work on this subject that has been published for 

 the state of Kansas. 



In our neighboring states considerable work on the listing of the local 

 algae has been published. Nebraska, through its Botanical Survey, has 

 issued several bulletins with lists of algae prepared by Professors Bessey 

 (1-2-3-25), Pound (1-2-3), Clements (1-2-3) and Webber (24-25). In 

 Iowa, R. E. Buchanan published in 1908, "Notes on the Algse of Iowa." 

 Colorado has two lists, one on the "Desmida from Alpine Stations," by 

 G. H. Wailes (23), and a "Preliminary List of the Algae of Colorado," 

 by W. W, Robbins (15). Missouri has a survey bulletin prepared by 

 Miss Ada Hayden (11) on the "Algae Flora of the Missouri Botanical 

 Garden of St. Louis," containing about one hundred and twenty-five 

 species. The Englemann Botanical Club (9) has prepared a "Prelimi- 

 nary Check List of the Cryptogams and Phanerogams in the Vicinity of 

 St. Louis, Mo.," containing a list of about 135 species of algae. Okla- 

 homa has published no lists of their algal flora. 



