3] 
including the forms which are particularly important as causes of 
disease. She has started on a special problem dealing with the 
diseases of ornamental plants, studying in the laboratory the causal 
organisms of disease in these plants, and doing bibliographical work 
with special reference to the description of the organism, the path- 
ological effects on the hosts, and recommended methods of control. 
Miss Tuthill is registered at New York University, and the work 
here is being done under the terms of the cooperative agreement 
between the University and the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, as stated 
on page 18 of the Botanic Garden Recorp for January, 1921. 
On November 25, Dr. Perley Spaulding, pathologist, Laboratory 
of Forest Pathology, U. S. Department of Agriculture, called at 
the Garden and secured cuttings of five species of currant (Ribes 
petracum, luridum, robustum, irriguum, and alpestre commune). 
The shrubs propagated from these cuttings will be used by Dr. 
Spaulding in his investigations on the destructive white pine blister- 
rust disease. 
Ecology—Mr. Taylor, curator of plants and plantations, has 
continued his studies of the environmental relations of plants on 
Long Island and elsewhere. This has included the taking of at- 
mometer (evaporimeter) records during the year at various Long 
Island stations, extending from Brooklyn to Montauk, and at 
North Haven, Conn. 
A study of Long Island soils has also been initiated in coopera- 
tion with the U. S. Department of Agriculture, for the purpose of 
ascertaining the role of the soil as a causal factor in the distribution 
of the vegetation of the Island. | 
Studies of soil acidity and plant succession have also been carried 
on in cooperation with Major Barrington Moore, as part of a com- 
prehensive study of the phytogeography and ecology of Mt. Desert 
Island, Maine. 
Genetics.—Dr. White’s genetic studies with peas (Pisum) were 
continued at the Garden until June 1, when he sailed with the 
Mulford Expedition for the biological exploration of the Amazon 
basin, as the joint representative of the Botanic Garden and Har- 
vard University. His cultures were cared for and records taken 
by his assistant, Miss Francena Meyer, until September 1. Among 
other matters, Dr. White, while in the Amazon basin, will give 
