117 



The heteroecious rusts probably arose from the autoecious eu- 

 forms, the change of hosts being made by the aecidiospore. 



A study of the rusts having a perennial mycelium shows that 

 about eighty such forms are known at present. Of these the 

 numbers are about equally divided between those in which the 

 gametophytic mycelium is perennial and those in which the 

 sporophytic is perennial. Of especial interest are a few forms 

 in which both a perennial gametophytic and a sporophytic myce- 

 lium occur on the same host. Puccinia suaveolens, Uromyces 

 glycyrrhizae and Puccinia Podophylli are examples of this. 



The yearly origin and dissemination of the rusts of the cereal 

 grains was next discussed. Dr. Olive thinks it highly probable 

 that infected seed produce infected plants and that this will 

 explain the existence of wheat rust in regions free from barberry. 



F, D. Fromme, 

 Secretary pro tern. 



NEWS ITEMS. 



Dr. Henry A. Gleason is to act as assistant professor of botany 

 at the University of Michigan summer school, located near the 

 Straits of Mackinac. Dr. H. N. Whitford and Mr. Guy West 

 Wilson will also teach at this school during the coming summer. 



At a recent meeting of the trustees of Wellesley College the 

 following new appointments were made in the department of 

 botany: Maude Gilchrist, associate professor; Christine F. Chap- 

 man, assistant; Helen I. Davis, curator of museum; Anna W. 

 Devereaux, lecturer. 



According to the Evening Post Prof. A, S. Pearse of Wisconsin 

 University will accompany a scientific expedition to Colombia, 

 South America, next summer, to study the plants and animals 

 in the vicinity of Santa Marta. Dr. J. Ruthven, of Michigan, 

 will lead the expedition. 



Dr. Frank K. Cameron, of the United States Bureau of Soils, 

 was in Seattle in April, arranging for the departure of two expe- 

 ditions, which will leave Seattle May i, to investigate the 

 kelps of Alaska as a source of potash fertilizer. One party, in 

 charge of Professor T. C. Frye, head of the botany department in 



