169 
The rhododendron lace bug, so destructive to rhododendrons 
in this region, has appeared on mountain laurel planted near 
thododendron. As the leaves are thinner, the effect is quickly 
noticed and the plants soon become brown and unsightly. 
Careful and repeated spraying with nicotine solution or kerosene 
emulsion is the only remedy. The bugs collect in large numbers 
on the under sides of the leaves. To the unaided eye they 
appear as animated fish scales, while under a hand lens their 
lace-like character becomes strikingly manifest. 
Professor H. M. Fitzpatrick, of Cornell University, visited the 
Garden several times in July in connection with efforts that are 
being made by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to stamp out 
the potato wart disease. This is one of the most dangerous 
diseases of Irish potatoes known. Rough, spongy outgrowths 
of varying size are produced on the tubers, especially at the eyes. 
These warts are light-brown at first, but become black and de- 
cayed with age. Sometimes all the potatoes in affected hills 
are worthless. Fortunately the disease does not attack the 
vines above ground. ; 
Professor Bernhard E. Fernow, formerly chief of the Division 
of Forestry of the United States Department of Agriculture and 
later director of the New York State College of Forestry at 
Cornell University, has retired from the position of dean of the 
Faculty of Forestry at the University of Toronto, held by him 
since 1907. Dr. Clifton D. Howe, a brother of Dr. Marshall 
A. Howe of the Garden, has been appointed acting dean. Dr. 
Howe was a member of the Garden's collecting expedition to 
Nova Scotia and Newfoundland in the summer of 1901. 
The following botanists have recently registered in the library: 
Mr. Arthur D. Cotton, Kew, England; Mr. George H. Pethy- 
bridge, Dublin, Ireland; Professor C. R. Orton, State College, Pa.; 
Professor R. Kent Beattie, Washington, D. C.; Professors C. H. 
Myers, W. W. Rowlee, and F. P. Bussell, Ithaca, N. Y.; Professor 
