SEPTEMBER 15, 1899. ] 
tion of hardy herbaceous plants has also 
been brought together, consisting of about 
1,100 species and varieties. 
‘Tomato Fruit-Rot’ was discussed by 
Professor F. §. Earle, Auburn, Alabama. 
This disease occurs in all parts of the 
country where the tomato is grown. It 
has been attributed to a fungus, Macro- 
sporium Tomato. Jones and Grout have 
shown that this fungus is a saprophyte 
and is not the cause of the disease. In 
the earliest stages the disease appears as 
a watery discoloration of the layer just 
beneath the cuticle. A little later this 
discolored area becomes covered with min- 
ute, sticky drops. These swarm. with 
bacteria. Pure cultures of this germ will 
promptly produce the disease when intro- 
duced under the skin of a sound tomato. 
The disease cannot be induced by inocu- 
lating the flowers nor by smearing it on the 
surface of the fruit. When the same germ 
' is introduced deeply in the tissues of the 
fruit, as by the boll-worm, it produces a 
watery rot. 
The germ is non-spore-bearing, motile 
Bacillus. It is strictly aerobic. It grows 
readily on the surface of peptone agar and 
on boiled potato, feebly on raw potato and 
in milk. It fails to grow on strawberries, 
apples and cabbage. The disease is prob- 
ably spread through the agency of some 
small insect. A species of Thrips has been 
observed in suspicious connection with it, 
but its agency in crossing it is not proved. 
‘On two hitherto confused species of 
Lycopodium,’ Professor Francis E. Loyd 
spoke of Lycopodium complanatum and the 
so-called variety chamecyparissus, having 
been found by the speaker in southern Ver- 
mont. A study of their characters shows 
them to be quite distinct, specifically. 
‘Some of the Investigations on Grasses 
and Forage Plants in Charge of the Division 
of Agrostotogy, U. S. Department of Agri- 
culture,’ were spoken of by Thomas A. Wil- 
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365 
liams. He called attention more particu- 
larly to the field and cooperative experimen- 
tal work now in progress in the West and 
South, and spoke of the need of varieties of 
grasses and forage plants better adapted to 
use on (a) Dry, arid soils, (b) Saline and 
alkaline soils, (¢) Highelevations. Prom- 
ising forms for cultivation belonging to such 
genera as Agropyron, Poa, Festuca, Bromus 
and Boutelowa are being studied; also se- 
lected strains of such commonly cultivated 
sorts as timothy and Kentucky blue-grass. 
He asked the cooperation of those interested 
that the work may be furthered and bet- 
tered. 
‘The Wilting of Cleome integrifolia’ was 
mentioned by Dr. C. E. Bessey, calling at- 
tention to the fact that when the plant is 
supplied with too little water its leaflets 
stand erect. ‘The Powdery Mildew of 
Polygonum aviculare’ was discussed by the 
same author, noting its earlier appearance 
this season, 1899, in Nebraska and the 
dwarfing effect in the host. 
Dr. N. L. Britton presented ‘Notes on 
the Northern Species of Celtis.’ The speaker 
discussed the differential characters of Celtis 
occidentalis L. and OC. Crassifolia Lam. as il- 
lustrated by trees in the vicinity of Colum- 
bus. 
Dr. Britton also made ‘ Remarks on some 
Species of Quercus.’ 
Attention was called to the finely de- 
veloped trees of Quercus acuminata about 
Columbus, both in its typical narrow-leaved 
form and in the numerous obovate-leaved 
trees; the character of bark and acorns of 
the two were commented upon. 
‘Ohio Stations for Lea’s Oak’ was the 
subject of a report by Dr. W. A. Kellerman. 
A fourth station in Ohio for Lea’s Oak was 
discovered recently at Cedar Point, near 
Sandusky, Erie county. Two trees only 
were detected, and they were surrounded by 
many Black Oaks (Q. velutina), and still 
more numerously by the Shingle Oaks ( Q. 
