(i 9 8) 



Through the cooperation of Mr. E. D. Clark, of the 

 department of biological chemistry, we have been able to 

 gain much information as to the nature of the changes 

 brought about in soil by heating and the problem is one 

 which promises to have some practical bearing on questions 

 of soil fertility as well as much scientific interest. 



The main part of my investigation has been a taxonomic 

 study of the fungi of the order Hypocreales. May 6 was 

 spent in the Museum of Natural History of Philadelphia, 

 special attention being given to the fungi of the Schweinitz 

 Collection in that institution. Nineteen types were 

 examined and with the permission of the authorities of the 

 institution microscopic slides of the spores of these plants 

 were prepared and become the property of the Garden. 

 Three of the specimens desired were missing from the 

 collection. In addition to the study of types, a more hasty 

 examination of numerous other specimens was made. 



August 5 was spent in the State Museum of New York 

 at Albany, in the study of the types of various species of 

 fungi described by Dr. C. H. Peck. With the permission 

 of the authorities, microscopic slides of the various types 

 were made as noted above. Fifteen types and several 

 other specimens were studied in this manner. There are 

 still a number of doubtful species in the order, most of which 

 belong to the Berkeley and Curtis collection. It is probable 

 that many of these may be studied at Cambridge. 



A preliminary monograph of the order is being prepared 

 in four parts. Two of these, "The Hypocreales of North 

 America — I" and "The Hypocreales of North America — 

 II," have been published in Mycologia and the third is now 

 ready for printing. The material to constitute the fourth 

 and last part of this preliminary monograph has been quite 

 thoroughly worked over and this also will soon be published. 

 It is the intention that the order Hypocreales and the small 

 order Dothideales will together constitute part I of a 

 volume for the "North American Flora" and it is probable 

 that before the end of another year this will be completed. 



