| 1899] Botany. 959 
. 8. The Forage Problem on the Plains, by C. E. Bessey ; discussing 
the native grasses and the factors which control their distribution, and 
suggesting those worthy of cultivation. 
9. Cucurbita an American Genus, by E. L. STURTEVANT. In this 
paper, after referring to the fact that Cogniaux, in his Monograph of 
the Cucurbitacex (1881), recognizes ten species, of which six are ac- 
knowledged to be strictly American, the author proceeds to show 
that the remaining species, viz. : C. maxima, C. pepo, C. moschata, ánd 
C. ficifolia, are also presumably of American origin. Six lines of 
argument seem to show that the position is well taken, viz.: (1) 
the absence of authentic instances of the recognition of pumpkins, 
squashes, etc., by the ancients of prehistoric times ; (2) the sequence 
of the European recognition which appears in the nomenclature seems 
to imply an introduction after the discovery of America; (3) the 
vernacular names of the four species appear from historical evidence to 
have originated after the discovery of America; (4) the vernacular 
names on structural grounds appear to be of American origin; (5 
herbarium specimens (very scanty in fact) indicate American as much 
as Old Werld origin; (6) in the scanty notices by older writers on 
Asiatic plants these species appear, either by statement or implication, 
to be introduced. 
The botanical papers read before Section F numbered twenty-seven 
in all, as follows : 
i. The Forest Trees of Indiana, by STANLEY COULTER; being a 
commentary upon the list of fomest trees (106 species) of the State. 
The distribution appears to be dependent mainly upon the water 
supply, and not upon the richness of the soil, geological formation, or 
altitude above the sea. j 
2. Preliminary Notes Upon a New and Destructive Oat Disease, by 
B. T. Gattoway; calling attention to a disease which attacks the 
leaves and stems of the oat, causing a discoloration of the tissues, A 
Bacillus was found, and this was shown by inoculations to be the cause 
of the disease, which appears to be widespread, cases having been re- 
ported from New England to Illinois and southward. 
3. Observations on the Variability of Disease Germs, by THEOBALD 
SMITH ; citing certain variations by him in the bacilli of “ hog 
cholera.”’ 2 
4. The Trimorphism of Uromyces 'trifolii (Alb. and Schw.) Wint., 
by J. K. Howeır; detailing investigations made to show that the 
Ecidium of clover (Æ. trifolit-repentis) is genetically connected with 
the teleutospore stage known as Uromyces trifolit. By means of care- 
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