March, 1902.] Proposed Algological Survey of Ohio. 219 
PROPOSED ALGOLOGICAL SURVEY OF OHIO. 
W. A. Kellerman. 
Little or no attention has been paid to the Ohio Algae, except 
by a few persons in a few localities, and it is therefore proposed 
that botanists, collectors and amateurs, unite in an effort to make 
known, the coming season, the character and distribution of our 
vState Algologieal flora. To this end all who may be interested — 
and it is hoped this number will include persons in every county 
in Ohio — and are willing to make observations and contributions 
are invited to send specimens for examination to the Botanical 
Department, Ohio State University. Mr. W. W. Stockberger of 
Denison University, Granville, will assist in working up the 
material and tabulating the results. If the suggestions here are 
not ample, interested parties are requested to send letters of 
inquiry. 
Many media or solutions for temporarily preserving Algae have 
been recommended — such as a weak solution of carbolic acid, two 
per cent, solution of formalin, Riport and Petit’s solution, one 
per cent, solution of chrome-alum, and camphor water (small 
piece of gum camphor in water) — but we have concluded that 
nothing is better than a tiny drop of carbolic acid in the vial of 
water containing the Alga. 
Homeopathic vials, or still better, shell vials, say two drachm 
capacity, with cork stoppers, will be found suitable, and large 
enough in most cases to contain ample material. Slender forceps 
are very convenient for securing the Algae and placing them in 
the bottles, though subtle fingers must never be underrated in 
natural history work. It is desirable that the collector note the 
habitat of each species taken and add any other notes that might 
suggest themselves for record. 
Numbers could be written with ink on the cork stopper, but it 
is preferable to use paper attached to the vials. A sheet of 
gummed paper can be obtained at any book store and this cut in 
narrow and short strips will be found most convenient. A con- 
tinuous or serial numbering ought to be adopted by every one 
who sends material. No number should ever be repeated in 
sending natural history specimens of any kind, and the collector 
should always keep a record of the numbers, with notes of habits, 
localities, etc. If reports are desired on the material sent to the 
State Harbarium, they will be made, and reference to specimens 
will always be by number. 
Such specimens may be sent by mail, but only when enclosed 
in a box so as to prevent them from being crushed and thereby 
endangering other mail matter. The rate of postage is one cent 
per ounce. The name and address of the sender should be written 
