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Botanic Garden; another, Mr. Faulwetter, is recently from Cornell 
University ; while the third, Mr. Hartman, comes from Pennsyl- 
vania State College. 
Edgar W. Olive 
ALGAE IN THE GARDEN BROOK 
During the present season, the algae have been especially abun- 
dant in the pools of the Garden brook. Scums have covered the 
quieter pools; the rocks forming the water-falls have been covered 
with a dark, slimy growth; accumulations of greenish material 
have gathered on the rocks below the cascades; while the outlet 
at the lower end of the brook has become at times choked. 
From one point of view, these pond scums (called “ frog spittle” 
by some) form unsightly accumulations of greenish, slimy ma- 
terial, and hence are unwelcome as residents of the Garden 
brook. To such as do not appreciate the beauty and interest of 
these plant growths from a microscopic point of view, they ap- 
pear as unattractive and undesirable intruders. 
From another point of view, these green, aquatic growths are 
exceedingly interesting and attractive plants and the Botanic 
Garden should, at least to a limited extent, permit and even en- 
courage their presence. To those interested in microscopic life, 
to the teacher of botany, as well as to the student of the varying 
forms of plant and animal life, such organisms as we find growing 
in the brook are indispensable. When the brook was first made, 
its rocks were bare and unattractive; and the whole stream re- 
tained for a time its artificial look. Now, after two years, the 
rocks, except those that are yet too smooth from the glacial polish- 
ing, are taking on mossy or algal growths, and the bed of the 
stream is becoming brownish with diatoms or tinged with green 
from microscopic plant growths. It is indeed fast losing its arti- 
ficial appearance and has taken on much of the beauty of unaided 
nature. 
For the greater part of the present growing season, the greenish 
sctms of the pools have been composed almost exclusively of 
water-net, or Hydrodictyon. During the summer of 1913, this 
water-net, if present at all, was at least inconspicuous, as none was 

