940 



SCIENCE. 



[N. S. Vol. XIV. No. 363. 



that on almost any soil some grasses may be 

 grown with profit. On the Great Plains, 

 although the region is so vast, the problems are 

 less varied, since the conditions are more nearly 

 similar throughout. Here to a great extent the 

 problem is the preservation of the natural pas- 

 tures and meadows, and their renovation where 

 they have been injured by overpasturing or by 

 the plow. Over a great part of this region the 

 natural meadows should be allowed to remain, 

 and the plow should not be permitted to dis- 

 turb the well-set sod. In the Eocky Mountains 

 the conditions are extremely varied, and the 

 problems are accordingly more numerous. In 

 many places the natural meadows must be pre- 

 served, while in others, as under irrigation, 

 grasses especially suited to the new conditions 

 must replace the scanty growth which preceded 

 them. A new problem obtrudes itself here, 

 viz., that of forage plants for the 'alkali soils.' 

 The problems in the Northwest include the last 

 mentioned (apparently solved by the growth of 

 species of Atriplex), and the renovation of the 

 natural pastures which have been overstocked. 

 In the Southwest some interesting facts are 

 brought to light, as that as soon as the prairie 

 fires are stopped the mesquite tree (Prosopis) 

 and the prickly pear cactus (Opuntia) increase 

 very rapidly, while at the same time the ex- 

 termination of the coyotes allows the rabbits 

 and prairie dogs to increase to such a degree as 

 to make them most serious pests. On the 

 Pacific coast the work has included the problem 

 of the control of shifting sands in addition to 

 studies of pasture and meadow grasses. 



In the course of these investigations much 

 valuable material for scientific study has been 

 obtained, and great quantities of seeds of the 

 more important species have been secured for 

 distribution and trial elsewhere in the country. 

 Above forty bulletins have been issued by the 

 division, ranging from quite popular to tech- 

 nically scientific. No one cau look over the 

 work done, as indicated in this bulletin, and not 

 feel that Secretary Morton did a good thing 

 when he established the Division of Ag- 

 rostology,, and that it has fully justified its ex- 

 istence. 



Charles E. Bessey. 



The University op Nebraska. 



THE SOUTH AFRICAN MUSEUM. 



The report of the South African Museum for 

 1900 may be styled a record of good work 

 performed under adverse conditions, for the 

 war in South Africa has affected the museum 

 in more ways than one, lessening not only the 

 number of contributors to the collections, but 

 the number of visitors. This falling off is the 

 first break in a steady increase that has been 

 going on for a considerable period. The acces- 

 sions of vertebrates have been principally of 

 birds, but one example of the young of the 

 rare cat Felis nigripes was obtained in a rather 

 curious way, it having run into the trenches at 

 Zand River during a hot engagement. 



Two of the contributors to the museum, Mr. 

 Walter Francis and Dr. A. C. Stark, have been 

 killed during the war ; the latter was engaged 

 in the preparation of a work on the birds of 

 South Africa, the first volume of which had ap- 

 peared. The second volume has been com- 

 pleted by the director. Dr. W. L. Sclater, and 

 is now in press. Dr. L. Peringuey has sent to 

 the printer the first part of a descriptive cata- 

 logue of the Scaraheidse, and states that the 

 manuscript of the second part is well advanced. 

 The second volume of the Annals of the 

 museum is well along and all the collections 

 are said to be in good shape, and we hope with 

 Sir David Gill that the time may soon come 

 when it will be possible to increase the small 

 appropriation made for the maintenance of this 

 museum. 



F. A. L. 



SCIENTIFIC NOTES AND NEWS. 



Director W. W. Campbell, of the Lick Ob- 

 servatory, was elected a foreign associate of 

 the Royal Astronomical Society at the meeting 

 of November 9. 



Mr. Alexander Agassiz, accompanied by 

 Mr. W. McM. Woodworth, has undertaken an 

 expedition to the Maldive Islands in the Indian 

 Ocean, in order to study the coral formations. 

 A steamboat for this purpose has been chartered 

 at Ceylon. 



Professor F. Lamson Scribner, chief of the 

 Division of Agrostology of the United States 

 Department of Agriculture, has been given 

 charge of the Bureau of Agriculture which is to 



