NEWS. 
Mr. F. J. SEAVER has been appointed professor of botany in Iowa Wesleyan 
College, at Mt. Pleasant, where he hopes to continue his study of Discomycetes. 
Dr. R. H. True, in charge of drug-plant investigations for the U. S. Bureau 
of Plant Industry, is paying special attention to the culture of paprika peppers. 
The crop of the past season is reported as extremely satisfactory. 
Professors MAcBRiIpE and Suimek, of the University of Iowa, spent part 
of last summer in the southwestern deserts, especially in the Salton basin. The 
University herbarium now contains a fairly complete representation of the flora 
of New Mexico and Arizona. 
Gepriper BoRNTRAEGER are proposing to reprint certain missing parts of 
the Jahrbiicher fiir wissenschajtliche Botanik so as to offer complete sets of the 
first forty volumes, provided there are a sufficient number of subscribers at 
M 1250 for the set. We trust they will be encouraged to execute the project. 
Mr. L. H. Dewey, in charge of fiber-plant investigations, U. S. Bureau of 
Plant Industry, has recently distributed to agricultural colleges and other tech- 
nical schools sets of the principal plant fibers used in the textile industries in this 
country. Until exhausted, these sets will be forwarded to schools and colleges 
where they will be of service in teaching economic botany or commercial geography. 
_ THE DEPARTMENT of botany of Purdue University has this year added — 
in forestry, administered by Professor STANLEY COULTER, covering two years 
Work, and including instruction in timber physics under the direction of Pro- 
fesor W. K. Hart, in charge of timber tests for the U. S. Forest Service. With 
Prerequisites covering Freshman and Sophomore work, the initial enrolment 1s 
thirteen. The University of Iowa is also extending its courses along forestry lines. 
THE systematic botanical work of the U. S. Bureau of Plant Industry has 
Neently been brought together and put in charge of Mr. F. V. — Here- 
tofore, considerable work of this character has been carried on in several offices 
Bi Bureau, more especially in that of the Agrostologist, where reo 
his €s of grasses have been conducted for many years. The is oe 
Ye also been placed under the charge of Mr. CovILLE, and Mr. A. ». a 
°Ock, in general charge of systematic work on grasses, has been assigned to 
Office of the Botanist for the continuance of this work. ? 
ra THE University of Nebraska changes have been made which prov! : 
ia genie for the herbarium ine ie about 100,000 Spec! 
e botanical library. The plant houses, 
‘partment of horticulture, sage be ae the full control of the department * 
y. A new botanical laboratory has been fitted 
rows - Agriculture and the Experiment Station, in oS ae 
1905] ural Hall on the University Farm. While part © 
399 
