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NEWS ITEMS * 



Joseph E. Kirkwood, Ph.D., Columbia, 1903,. has been ap- 

 pointed assistant professor of forestry and botany in the University 

 of Montana. He was formerly professor of botany in Syracuse 

 University and for a time a botanical investigator for the Conti- 

 nental-Mexican Rubber Company. 



Mr. William T. Home, who was fellow in botany in Columbia 

 University in 1903-04, has resigned his position as chief of the 

 department of plant pathology of the Cuban Agricultural Experi- 

 ment Station and has accepted an appointment as assistant pro- 

 fessor of plant pathology in the University of California. 



Tropical Life announces a prize of fifty pounds sterling for an 

 essay embodying research work directed towards ascertaining 

 exactly what changes (together with their causes and whether 

 these changes occur during the fermentation process only or 

 while being dried) take place in the cacao bean between the time 

 that it leaves the pod until it is shoveled into the bag for export. 

 For further information those interested may address the editor 

 of Tropical Life, 112 Fenchurch St., E. C. London. 



The joint field meeting of the Verniont Botanical and Bird 

 Clubs was held July 6 and 7, with headquarters at Burling- 

 ton. The sessions were planned to fit in between the two most 

 important days of the Champlain Tercentenary Celebration. The 

 first day was occupied with an excursion to Ausable Chasm, New 

 York. In the evening a short business meeting was held in the 

 Museum of the University of Vermont. Wednesday morning the 

 party went by trolley to Ethan Allen Park, then tramped through 

 the woods down to Eagle Bay, and along the lake shore back to 

 Burlington. In the afternoon, the party, somewhat reduced in 

 number, visited the very interesting High Bridge region, and the 

 Woodwardia pond at Fort Ethan Allen, Colchester. Both days 

 were cool, and such unusual July weather contributed much to 

 the enjoyment of the forty persons in attendance. 



