XXIII. A CONTEIBUTION TO THE BIBLIOaEAPHY 

 OF A3IERICAN ALGAE. 



Josephine E. Tilden. 



It is the purpose of this paper to collect titles of articles 

 referring to the algae of America. Since the study of this 

 group has now reached a point "where it can be made of great 

 benefit it is thought that it may be well to construct a guide to 

 bring together the information that has been accumulating during 

 the past. In accordance with the law of development of any 

 natural science, the first work done on the algae consisted 

 principally in determining the species found in different 

 localities. An investigation of life-histories followed, out 

 of which grew the study of the morphological, physiological 

 and paleontological relations of the group. An important 

 question of to-day is that of the cause and effect of algal 

 growths in water, since the supplying of cities and towns with 

 pure drinking water is of vital consequence, and whatever 

 system may be used, the influence of algal organisms in the 

 water is at once detected and must be met with scientific as well 

 as practical treatment. The recent adoption of the reservoir 

 system in the city of Minneapolis makes this of peculiar 

 interest at the present time. But it is not in cities alone that 

 the good and bad effects of algal growths are to be observed. 

 It was only a few years ago that Le Sueur county, Minnesota, 

 was the seat of a very fatal disease among domestic animals 

 which was believed to be due to their drinking the water of a 

 lake infested with certain kinds of algae 



In several states of the Union the study of minute forms of 

 life contained in rivers and other bodies of water used to supply 

 cities has been begun, but what has been done is as yet very 

 slight compared with what should and must be done. It is 

 hoped that the list of titles here presented will facilitate study 

 of this kind in North America. 



