32 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ACADEMY 01 SCIENCES. 



of the drift sands of Cape Colony, with some account of the government 

 attempts to reclaim these a-reas, and analyses of Eerste River drift sand 

 at different depths and periods. The method of reclamation followed has 

 involved the spreading of town refuse on the sand and the planting of 

 sand-binding trees and grasses. The average cost of five years' reclama- 

 tion work at Eerste Eiver was $48.74 per acre. The trees found most use- 

 ful for planting on the sands were Acacia saligna and A. cyclopis. Various 

 species of Eucalyptus have also been planted with more or less promise 

 of success. 



"The Eabricia (Leptospernum loevigatum) propagates readily, and is 

 most effective in arresting Sands in warm climates. Other useful trees 

 are the Tamarix gallica, Widdringtonia cupressoides, and the Cupressus 

 macrocarpa. ... Of the grasses used in the Cape Colony, by far the 

 most successful is the Ehrharta gigantea or pypgrass, the vigor of its 

 growth far exceeding that of any other. Perhaps the most useful is the 

 indigenous Triticum junceum, which is being used on the exposed littoral 

 dune at Port Elizabeth, as it thrives well near tlie sea. The Elymus 

 arenarius does not grow freely on the driest parts of the sands, and has, 

 on the whole, shown poor germination, although in some cases healthy 

 and strong. Extensive experiments have been made with marram grass 

 (Psamma arenaria), also known as Ammophila arundinacea and Arundo 

 arenaria, but the results have been very disappointing. . . . Other 

 useful grasses are the Cynodon dactyl on and Sporobolus matrella, wtich 

 were self -introduced at Eereste River and grew vigorously. The Panicum 

 and Stenotaphrum are also indigenous grasses that do well on sandy 

 soils. ' ' 



In No. 3, Vol. 1. of Muhlenbergia, Mr. Heller describes a number of new 

 labiates from California, chiefly in Monardella and Scutellaria, and has 

 begun a series of papers on "Western Species New and Old." A new 

 Lupine is described by J. W. Congdon. 



Experiments at the Michigan Agricultural Station on tEe warding off 

 of frost by the use of extensive fires of wood resnlted in keeping the 

 temperature 2 degrees above the surrounding uninfluenced portion of the 

 orchard. 



T. D. A. Cockerell (Bulletin of the Colorado College Museum No. 1) de- 

 scribes a new Picradenia, the roots of which have been found to contain 

 considerable quantities of rubber. The author has reviewed the genus 

 and describes one new sj)eeies and two subspecies. 



