53 
Jalapa on the east to Colima and Tecoman on the west. Accom- 
panying the collection are 120 colored illustrations of the more 
perishable species, drawn by Mrs. Murrill. Many interesting 
original photographs were also secured. A full account of this 
expedition will appear in the JourNnAL for March. 
Dr. Raymond H. Pond, plant pathologist of the Texas Agri- 
cultural Experiment Station, College Station, visited the Garden 
last month on his return trip from the Boston meeting of the 
American Association for the Advancement of Science. Dr. 
Pond held a research scholarship at the Garden at various times 
from 1905 to 1907, and for several months was biologist of the 
Metropolitan Sewerage Commission of New York City. 
Volume 9, part 3, of “North American Flora” appeared 
February 3, 1910. This part contains descriptions of the 
Boletaceae and Chantereleae by Dr. W. A. Murrill; and the Lac- 
tarieae (pars) by Dr. Gertrude S. Burlingham. 
Dr. Charles Reid Barnes, professor of plant physiology in the 
University of Chicago, died on February 24. Professor Barnes 
was born in Madison, Indiana, in 1858; and was educated at 
Hanover College, Indiana, and at Harvard University. He has 
been best known as a teacher of general plant physiology, as a 
student of the taxonomy of mosses, and as co-editor of the 
Botanical Gazette. 
The danger to buildings from the dry rot fungus (Merudius 
lacrymans) has not been recognized in this country as it has in 
Europe and builders have been allowed to use unseasoned wood 
to a large extent. A recent investigation in New York City by 
Professor I. H. Woolson, of Columbia University, brought to light 
an astonishing condition of affairs in a great number of wooden 
buildings, which may collapse as did the Gledhill factory unless 
speedily repaired. 
The gray squirrels in the Hemlock Grove have found the 
severe winter very trying without their accustomed store of 
chestnuts. Mr. E. W. Humphreys recently observed one of 
them making a meal on Stereum fursutum, a leathery fungus 
occurring commonly on dead wood, which would seem unpalat- 
able to the last degree. During the summer, squirrels are very 
