ae Se -s A ? hes i! Tn mt) = , ra5 Tahoe ue Pee y : ‘ ub ges aN Does 4. a ced NON Pace Es, 35: Rigs ‘HARVARD UNIVERSITY. BOUGHT. eS 7 Me . Dita te 3 Niet et > , ie A tie aia POE Ae, > F Ok FF 2a 3 . we ST PTE 2d RA FEB 23 1905 The American Botanist Devoted to Economic and Ecological Botany. EDITED BY WILLARD N. CLUTE. Volume I. BINGHAMTON, N. Y. WILLARD N. CLUTE & CO. 1903. tL . Alar. wed La - * ‘ . a = r | y sa + i fa ‘ . | - - ~ % ‘ = bi ont +> ery Byes * CON TEIN T'S. Contributed Articles. PemOrimcl PIOWENS, SOMEC.......c0.ccssceescersecsnacdees J. L. Sheldon, EN rac aaiw a ceay sc danse inde vigor cannseee simgGs 2): SaaOelss Rl ICI ile vcau cue vns 025 age vanes vedas Elma Iona Locke, Flora of New Orleans, The October............. Willard N. Clute, O20 Sl a CR Willard N. Clute, Pities. The WOOGStOWD. .oc5.< dec ecccccedacccoessse Edward C. Jellett, em OLY PNG OE eo ooo os dak cvidde say Cac nvoc ccd cs'cregeceecocs E. W. Vickers, Bette WISVSE AION Of2n,. (acec..cscylacusedes=s- a5 Cocoa-palm, Origin of the............. rs Cocoa, Preparation Of..............s00- 25 Compass Plant, Another:....::scc00s 24 Compass Plants .......-sceessseeeeeeeeeeees 43 Date-palm Sugar ..........ceeeeoeeeees 42 Elm, Canker-worm and the........... to Fernworts, Number of ..............+06. Da Biota; (1 he AtCtit. 2. 2s5cecuepaeeveeerees 28 Flower, A Hardy Californian........ 1 BAY Garden Plants, Poisonous............- 76 Hawthorns, Our Native................ 29 Eivisrids, Sterility of. .cc.- 7. amet 92 jal 51s ss, eee eee ReREE ee ceo enc 914 Ivy Poisoning............sesseesseseseeeeeess 92 Ivy Poisoning, Antidote for.......... 25, 76 Lithospermum pilosum.............06+. 42 Man-eating Tres, The: ...2..:s-ve--0. 25 Editorial Books and Writers Mistletoe, The Dwarf.........ecccceee. Moortiseed,-Poisonousies ee Nature-and Science...2.8¢50. Nature-study and the Child Nightshade, The Potato-bug and.. Partridge Pea, The Ants and the... Pea-family, Largest Flower of...... | Peach Pits 14.02.34. | Plants of the High Bates... Potatoes, Introduction of.........:.<. Prickly -Lettuce,'Use afi. 3 ee | Prickly Pear, The. :.-.24.<0-75 seer ee | Puff-balls Wanted:.2......-. een Shamrock, (he s:2. 0: 000) ase ee Strange Partnerships ‘a r ‘Wee aw i my ‘ea *s ~ I > THE AMERICAN BOTANIST Entered at the Post Office at Binghamton, N. Y., as Second Class Matter, Aug. 22, 1901. ¥or,., I SEPTEMBER, IQOI. No. 3- MULLEIN AND POKE. By Ernest WATERS VICKERS. I cannot forego a little tribute to these lusty herbs in their season. The mullein is always conspicuous and interesting. It was reputed by the simplers of old with the power of soothing, and in the language of flowers means good nature. This herb had laid strong hold on my imagination ere | knew what meaning the books had crowned it with. I can scarcely tell why, but it is a rustic classic to my heart with its great hoary mat of earth-hug- ging leaves, vigorous and cheerful in latter autumn and even peering out from under the thawing snows of winter, where it suggests elements of unconquerable rugged strength. It is just the herb for stony and waste places and poor and neglected hill pastures. Put its tall, stiff wands among strewn stones, scatter about some sheep, with their weather-worn coats, suggesting the mottlings of the lichens on the rocks, to which they seem legged brothers, and you have provided the picturesque elements which should tempt any poet-artist of out-door scenes. Then the mullein’s ascending spire where the canary-lemon flowers by their upward progress mark the succession of summer days. It is a string of petals followed by a string of seeds on those stiff stems, as persistent and forward-pressing as the succes- sive hours! This plant seems very near the earth, more earthly than many another, which makes us forget its origin in the dainti- ness of its position. Perhaps this is a hint at its charm; it is lowly, humble, homely, and therefore, as in certain rude farmers, we fairly see and smell the old Adamic man—bow down before a certain exalted lowliness. And in keeping has the lemon flower 34 been given that balmy sweetness, which we must stoop to smell, smacking of plowed land, a genuine soily odor, as strangely fit- ting payment for its homely humility. The winged shaft, with its single or three or more branched top, like a trinity of wax tapers, suggests a candelabrum. It isa simple and noble form, unique and worthy of the attention of art; a thing fit to be chiseled in stone or raised in a base of silver on a field of gold. Good nature—let us at least say when we behold it afield, that it shall be our armorial emblem. Philip G. Hamerton in “The Sylvan Year,’ and we quote from so good a book with gladness, says: “Of all the plants that grow the mullien in its decay comes nearest to that most terrible form of human poverty, when the victim has still, to his misfor- tune, vitality enough for mere existence, yet not enough to make existence either decent or endurable. * * * ‘Their misery is like that awful destitution that stands clothed in the last shreds and remnants of prosperity.” To appreciate this you must see a band of old mulliens on a December or January night clustered on a bare hill in a flying storm, by lantern light or obscure moonlight. They take all “the whips and scorns” of winter in an inflexible spirit of good nature, seeming 1n that still upright, though lifeless form, to retain some vitality. Nothing to relent or sorrow over if they could recall the past. Hundreds of thousands of seeds perfected and being scat- tered even now by every blast. They are grandly erect and un- broken in all their ruin, like a noble character which no mischance of time can overthrow. The Poke likewise delights the fancy in every way, though antithetically. From the time its edible shoots push up into the midst of the genial joys of spring all through its enchanted un- foldings, till it gracefully hangs out its spreading sprays with their fruitful “honors thick upon them,” it is worth attention. Its fine, smooth red stems, handsome leaves and loose original which measure the successful feeding of its yoots—is like an inverted chandelier with all its candles set in style of branching 35 clusters. ‘I'he very flowers and fruits, like the rest of the plant, take space in which to be individual and airy. All about it are the signs of a leisurely, rank looseness and steady aggression. It is a gross feeder, only attaining its peculiar protection in the rich- est spots, and I wonder what it would do if it had all the food it could use. Visions arise akin to that of Jack’s bean-stalk ex- periences. It is a watery and plethoric herb from its youth up, and when autumn comes, blushes like a very wine bibber, and being so watery, how quickly and utterly is its ruin under the frost. The mullien is an old Puritan squatter sedant on his bar- ven hill, where he must wrestle his sustenance from the soil, whose constitution is of the rocks, geologic. But this poke-weed is the son of luxury, liveth in rich places and waxeth fat, but how quick is his decline and fall! Long ere winter has taken matters in hand it is bent and broken upon the earth as 1f it had been made of pasteboard—the very emblem of fast rising, transient success and complete irretrievable ruin. In his pride he was the very dandy of the woods; how grandly he bore those bloom-clusters, ereen fruits and ripe, on stem ends not hanging down as of pure indolence, but still languidly half-hanging, showing even then us internal debility. Behold how he lies, his stalks carmine no more, but bleached like yellow bones, broken like pipe stems—the Jargest and most ignoble vegetable wreck to be seen in all the woods. OUR SOUTHERN CANES. In the Southern States the bamboo tribe of grasses is rep- resented by two tall species known as canes. These grow along streams and in other low grounds and form dense thickets known as canebrakes. In many of their habits they closely resemble the true bamboos, as wiil be seen from the following account taken from Dr. Mohr’s “Plant Life of Alabama :” “These two species, which resemble each other so closely in abit, differ greatly in their modes of reproduction, a subject of ee ee © ade Ta he 370 36 much interest of which but little is yet known and one which invites the attention of the investigator of the ecological relations of plants, and no less that of the agriculturalist, on account of the value of the canes as pasture plants. Arundinaria tecta (switch cane) rarely exceeds the height of 12 to 15 feet, and the slender culm branched from the base is seldom half an inch in thickness. Early in spring, apparently every three or four years, the paniculate flowers are produced on naked radial shoots scarcely exceeding 18 inches in height, while the tall flowerless canes are sent up every season from the long creeping rhizomes. Arundinaria macrosperma (large cane), from 15 to 30 feet high and frequently an inch and over in diameter, produces the panicles of its flowers in the axils of the branches at long and indefinite intervals of time. It is evident, therefore, that generations may pass by before the spectacle of such a canebrake in bloom is ever witnessed. For example, in the beginning of the summer of 1896, the inhabitants of Russell County were astonished suddenly to find the large canebrakes bending under the burden of their heavy nutritious grains, which attracted large numbers of birds and beasts. The farmers regarded this as an entirely new plant, and, finding their stock grow fat upon the seed, stored away quan- tities of it, not only for future feeding, but under the delusion that if sown it would constitute a crop of small grain equal in value to any previously grown. But in the light of experience it is to be presumed that a period of not less than forty to fifty years has to pass before the propagation of this plant by sexual reproduction takes place; with the maturity of the seed the vitality of the plant is exhausted and the cane decays. In the succeed- ing season, from the spontaneous stocking of the ground with an abundance of seed, a new crop springs up. The seedlings pro- duce no branches during the first year. These simple sprouts, which are known as “mutton cane,” are tender and sweet and af- ford the best of pasturage. T hey are particularly sought after by bears, which find the impenetrable density of the canebrake their securest retreats.” SD) Sy gt a ee ’ le e Nei ce 4 s A 37 THE OX-EYE, DAISY. Like the English sparrow (Passer domesticus) and the cab- hage butterfly (Pieris rapae) there has come to us from European shores, and probably earlier to that continent from Asia, a pretty weed called Chrysanthemum Leucanthemum, or in common par- lance, the ox-eye daisy, the word daisy being the well-known cor- ruption of the Anglo-Saxon daeges-eage, day’s eye, which is of niore than usual fitness, since at nightfall, or on the approach of stormy weather, the ring of white ray florets closes gently over the yellow eye, and the flower is fallen asleep. A long list of other common local names has been applied to this much admired, much despised flower, among them being white-weed, dog-daisy, bull-daisy, butter-daisy, big-daisy, mid- summer-daisy, moon-daisy, horse-daisy, poorland-daisy, or maudlin-daisy, dutch-morgan, moon-flower, moon-penny, great white ox-eye, poverty-weed, white-man’s weed and herb Mar- garet. It is commonly distributed over the northern and eastern United States, less abundantly toward the South and West; yet to the friend living in northern Ohio a New York daisy field proved a revelation of beauty never witnessed before. The daisy has taken kindly to our soil, and has evidently come to stay. It does not ask for much; any waste place will do, and every year the whiteness grows till a veritable Milky Way has dropped from the sky. Beginning with May, it claims all months for its own into the fall season, but it especially loves the June days and the company of the buttercups and clover and swinging, blossoming grasses, and it then puts forth its best show. Occasionally, unbidden, it nestles among the mowing fields, and the practical farmer is at once upon his guard. To him, a daisy 1s a worthless thing, exhaustive to the soil and suggestive of poor land. Though the stalk be lain low and the heads al- lowed to wither and die, the root remains, a perennial, and at 38 least as many starry eyes look upward with the recurring sea- sons. The small double English daisy, that grows only by cultiva- tion in our lawns and gardens, was the “wee, modest, crimson- » tipped flower” of the Scottish poet, the “gowan” of Scotland and the “bairnwort” of Yorkshire, and is most dear to English eyes, since, we are told, it 1s as the grass of the field in abundance. The Christmas and Michaelmas daisies are included as species of aster.—From an article by Susy C. Fogg, in Nature Study. AERIAL RUNNERS IN THE STAR FLOWER. Those acquainted with the star flower (7vrientalis) and with its life under ground are familiar with its slender white tuberif- erous runners one or two feet in length. It is of great interest in the dry days of late summer to lift off the deep covering of moss and disclose this outcome of the summer’s work with the well-de- veloped tuber already rooted in the ground. ‘The protective bend of the bud 1s especially marked and at intervals along the runners are minute scales similar in nature to those more developed on the upright stem. As the white runners thread the moss a touch of rose-color here and there shows where they have run nearer to the surface and felt the influence of the sun. These traces of color suggest in a novel way the stem-nature of the underground run- ners. Some years ago, in late summer, at Machias, Washington County, Maine, a few peculiar specimens of the Trientalis were tound. From the axils of the leaf-like scales were produced slender aerial runners. ‘They were of a deep carmine color, and an unusual coloring of the leaves suggested some injury or blight. These plants showed no sign of blossoms except in cases where blossoms had not perfected fruit. These aerial runners, as they .dip into the moss, form tubers similar to the usual subterranean ones. Ordinary plants of Tvientalis at this season show very long underground runners and well developed tubers, but these plants for some reason seem to have put their strength into these 39 runners above ground. ‘They have continued to hold their own in that one spot, changing only from the mossy base of one tree to that of another. This place is just on the border line where the “old growth” type of vegetation meets the tangle of a sunny second-growth. Sometimes the graceful runners are swinging free, some- times they have just penetrated the moss enough for the tuber to form. Last summer (1900) after the extreme drought I was un- able to find a specimen in the old place for a long time, but one plant finally appeared with a well developed tuber and the same characteristics as in previous years. I was once attracted to what appeared to be a similar condition of growth in Trientalis, but it proved to be another interesting phase of life. A couple of these plants were growing on the moss covering of an old fence log. When the white underground runners reached the perpendicular end of the log and lost the covering of moss, they assumed the rich color of the aerial runners and swung out free over the edge in- stead of following out the root instinct and seeking the dark again. Here again the pink spots on the white runners showed at intervals the effect of the lght—Robina Silsbee Smith in Rhodora. BAMBOO SEED AS FOOD. “It would not appear to be very generally known,” says a writer in the /ndian Forester, “that the seed of the bamboo is not only fit for consumption by man, but that, in this corner of India, it is being collected and so consumed to an extent sufficient to ameliorate a very pronounced local scarcity. How far outside the Dharwar District the seeding is taking place I am unable to say. It undoubtedly extends some distance into Kanara. Here two taluqas are alone involved. In them it is rarely possible to meet with a single culm not undergoing the process. The ap- proximate area may be stated at 75,000 acres, extending fifty miles from north to south, along belts three to eight miles broad. It is generally admitted in this area that but for this prolific seed- 40 ing, owing to the great scantiness of the rainfall during the past two seasons, the poorer classes would have been hard pressed. ‘The fact that there has been an unprecedented deficiency in the rainfall over a tract of country which is almost invariably well. favored in this respect, leading in its turn to a sudden seeding of the bamboo, is significant and of interest; but with this aspect of the question | am not at present concerned, except in so far as to iicidentally draw attention to the old Brahmin saying, ‘When the bamboo produces sustenance we must look to Heaven for food.’ The purely local inhabitants are not the only ones who are taking advantage of the present situation. ‘The news has spread far and wide into territories where forests do not exist, and the influx of people represents a serious factor in the preservation of the re- serves from fire. It is a common thing to see cart-loads of bam- hoo grain plying along our roads where but a short while back grain in any form was at a premium. When the seed is ripe, a very slight shaking of the already dry stems 1s sufficient to induce it to fall plentifully. The flour is either mixed with rice or ‘jowari, or eaten by itself, prepared into the ordinary flat cakes of the country, termed ‘chapatis.’ It has been found that two women can collect about eight pounds of the seed in the day, which, after the removal of the husk and bran, is reduced to six pounds. ‘This quantity will make thirty cakes seven inches in diameter, or sufficient, it is said, to feed an able-bodied man for six days.” FERTILIZATION OF JASMINE, FLOWERS. It is remarkable that the most simple things are those one knows the least about. Everyone has seen the flowers of the Jasmine, but no one knows exactly how their fertilization 1s effected. Recent researches, however, have helped to throw more light on this interesting subject. Upon examining a flower of ‘Jasminum one at once notices that the corolla tube is narrow, and that the anthers are disposed in such a way as to almost com- pletely close the entrance, leaving a passage between themselves 41 so small as to be hardly apparent. The flowers also are horizontal, and the pollen cannot fall upon the stigma; direct fertilization is therefore not possible. It is here that the inter- vention of insects becomes necessary—but to which must we turn? Many dipteras visit the flowers of the Jasmine, but their probosces are short, and they are not able to gather the nectar. It is the same with bees. One Bombus hortorum, in certain cases and by reason of the length of its proboscis, can obtain a little of the nectar that is secreted at the base of the corolla tube, but here there is another hindrance. This bee, for some reason or other, is not fond of Jasmine flowers, and it is only occasionally that it deigns to be attracted by them. The majority of the butterflies are hardly more useful; a beautiful little sphinx, however, bearing the name Mactroglossa stellatarum appears to accomplish the task conscientiously. From eight o'clock in the morning until eight o'clock in the evening one sees it in groups upon the flowers of Jasmine. So agile is it that it 1s capable of visiting fifty flowers a minute, and rarely goes to the same one twice. The proboscis, 28 millimetres long, permits of its reaching the nectar, but it can only obtain this latter by passing its proboscis through the narrow passage between the anthers. Pollen then naturally adheres to it, and this the obliging butterfly will unconsciously deposit upon the stigma of the same or another flower.—Le Jardii. | TREE LOBELIAS OF AByssINIA.—\We are so accustomed to look on Lobelias as annuals, or at most as perennials, that it comes as a surprise to many to hear of tree lobelias: nevertheless, various arboreous species of the genus Lobelia constitute one of the most striking features in the vegetation of the open parts of some of the loftiest mountains of tropical Africa, where they erow at elevations of 6,000 to 14,000 feet. In habit they re- semble a Cordyline or small Palm, having an unbranched stem, with a crown of undivided, pendulous leaves, finally surmounted by a terminal, erect inflorescence several feet in length.—Garden- ers Chronicle. NOTE AND COMMENT. WaANTED.—Short notes of interest to the general botanist are always in demand for this department. Our readers are in- vited to make this the place of publication for their botanical items. Use For Prickiy Letruce.—lIn sections where the prickly lettuce (Lactuca scariola) is becoming a nuisance, it may be wel- come news that this plant is greedily eaten by poultry. THe Current NuMBER.—‘‘Swindled again,” said the old gentleman as he threw his paper down. “They advertised to send the current number for 25 cents and there ain’t a word about cur- fants in ity’ THE SHAMROCK.—A recent number of Leslie’s Weekly alludes to the shamrock as “ the little green blossom dear to the heart of Ireland’s sons and daughters.” Evidently the editor is neither an Irishman nor a botanist. THE AMIABLE (?) ScrENCE.—In view of the many differ- ences that exist between the leaders of botany at present, it would seem that the individual who called botany ‘the amiable sci- ence ’’ must have overlooked a most important prefix. LITHOSPERMUM Pi1LosuM.—This beautiful plant inhabits the Alpine crags and peaks of the Sierra Nevada summits. It has singularly beautiful gray white foliage and grows flattened and depressed, no doubt caused by winter snows. Viewing this plant from a short distance it looks like a pile of ashes. It would make one of the greatest novelties out for scenic effect in land- scape gardening.—S. L. Watkins, Grizzly Flats, California. Date PALM SuGAR.—The common date palm (Phoenix dactylifera) is found growing wild in nearly all parts of India. In Bengal the tree is utilized economically for the manufacture of sugar from its juice, and is a source of profit to the owners. This 43 «spect of the date tree does not appear to have struck the people of the Central Provinces, Central India and the Deccan generally, where the tree is found growing in groves of thousands. Re- cently a joint stock company, called the Khandwa Sugar Manu- facturing Company, has been launched to work this profit-yield- ing tree, and started work at Nimar three years ago. So far the results give promise of a bright future. Compass-PLANTS.—A distinguished scientist explains that the prickly lettuce (Lactuca scariola) 1s a compass-plant by reason of ““‘phytolytic movements of chloroplasts in exposed cells, para- phototropic reactions, and photeotic, or nyctitropic movements of leaves.’ If any other scientist can box this vegetable compass more concisely, it is his turn to speak. MoonsEED PotsoNnous.—American Gardening reports the death of three boys at Sharpsville, Pa., from eating the berries of the moonseed (Menispermum Canadense). ‘The berries are similar in appearance to frost grapes and the boys ate a great many. In spite of promptly administered emetics they soon died in convulsions. The action of the drug is said to have been similar to that of strychnine. Moonseed is a relative of the well known drug plant, Cocculus indicus, which is also poisonous. Although moonseed berries resemble grapes, the ripe fruit is very unpalatable, which fact alone will doubtless prevent many oc- currences of this nature. ARMED PyLants.—‘It is often a matter of conjecture among visitors to botanical gardens and elsewhere that collec- tions of tropical plants are grown, as to the reason for so many of them being armed with thorns, spikes, and prickles,” says Gardening World. “It is now generally conceded that these members of the torrid zone have got to arm themselves thus against the eternal preying of the herbivorous animals. In some parts where vegetation is scarcer, and where the mammalia are hard pressed for food, the plants are found to be very strongly 44 endowed with these spines. The thorns or prickles serve as pro- tective armor for preserving the plants from extermination.” The more one studies these thorny plants on their “ native | heath,” however, the less inclined he is to attribute the presence of thorns and spines to the attacks of herbivorous mammals. It is a.singular fact that the great tree-ferns of the Tropics are heavily armed with thorns, while the herbaceous species, which would be most likely to be eaten by browsing animals, are entirely unarmed. PLANT PROTECTION.—Mr. Frank A. Suter, Lancaster, Pa., writes that the destruction of Dillerville Swamp, which is bound soon to occur, will result in the eradication of several interesting plants from the vicinity of Lancaster. Among these are the golden club (Oronticum aquaticum), fringed gentian, ladies’ tresses, purple gerardia and Smulicina stellata. Mr. Suter asks how this flora can be preserved. He as well as many others will doubtless be interested in the Society for the Protection of Native Piants recently organized in Boston whose mission seems to be the answering of just such questions. This society intends to publish brief articles and leaflets pointing out what plants es- pecially need protection and how they may be protected. Miss Maria EK. Carter, Boston Society of Natural History, Berkeley Street, Boston, may be addressed for further information and leaflets. We shall be glad to assist the movement and offer space in our columns for notes upon the subject. NATURE STUDY AND THE CHILD.—It is a fault with much of our nature study writing for children that we make too much of what we term the natural order in the development of plant and animal life. The idea is relatively so new, even to the oldest of us, 1t has appealed to us with such force, that we attempt to load down the child with it, and set him to dragging a chain in his ‘walks afield. We prepare our text-books in the most orderly manner, and with a gravity which, under the circumstances, is half comical, beginning with man, perhaps, and going back 45 through the long line of vertebrates to the sea squirts ; or, we begin with the sea squirts, and climb painfully up to man again, expect- ing the boy to be profoundly impressed. But he is not. He is sure to disappoint us. Some day, bald-headed and with spectacles on, he may argue with other spectacled bald-heads, and maintain nis ground, that, because a cross-vein in the wing of some insect arises from the principal at an angle of thirty degrees, instead of thirty-five, an entire group should be rearranged; but for the present, being a boy, he hates the thought of any kind of chain and the merest suggestion of order. Purr-Bauis Wantep.—The editor recently had the pleasure of meeting Mr. C. G. Lloyd, who is making a special study of our puff-balls. He is especially anxious to obtain col- lections of any species of these, except the very large ones, and will gladly pay the transportation charges on specimens sent him. The specimens do not need any special preparation—just carry them home without crushing, lay them aside to dry and then send them, packed so they will not be injured, to Mr. Lloyd, at Court and Plum Streets, Cincinnati. It is suggested that when specimens are plenty a pint of each kind be sent, especially if the species is a small one. While not pursuing this study for the number of new species to be got out of it, Mr. Lloyd is in- clined to believe that there are several species in the United States still unknown, and every person who knows a puff-ball when he sees it can assist in settling the question. The best time to collect the specimens is just before they are ripe, but do not discard them even if fully ripe. EDITORIAL. The editor of this journal is spending the autumn months in New Orleans. If correspondents do not receive answers to their communications as promptly as usual this note will explain the delay. We note with considerable amusement the solicitude for the success of this journal expressed in the July number of the Plant li’orld. The editor of that publication has grave doubts of our finding favor with the public for a magazine like THE AMERICAN BoTanist, which consists “of only sixteen pages of reading mat- ter composed largely of extracts” and “without illustrations.” It is quite probable that the editor of the Plant World is not alone in his opinions regarding such a journal and we therefore take the opportunity of setting forth somewhat more fully the policy cf our magazine in order to lay further doubts at rest. In our epinion the number of pages has nothing to do with the case. It would be a queer reader that demanded a large number of pages quite irrespective of what was printed upon them. The value of the goods in small packages has passed into a proverb. We hold that sixteen pages of really interesting matter fully equals twenty- eight pages in which almost anything is used as “filler.” Every l:ne in our magazine is selected for its value to the general reader. We make no apologies for clipping from other journals since we are concerned solely in selecting matter of interest to the flower lover, and must take material when we find it. Indeed, this very feature relieves the reader who cares not for technical articles, from subscribing for numerous botanical journals. The pith of al! valuable articles will be found in THE AMERICAN BOTANIST. \Ve also hold that illustrations which do not illustrate are worse than none, since they take up space which might be devoted to reading matter. When any of our articles need illustrations, we ‘shall not hesitate to use them. We disclaim all attempts to “popularize science” and reiterate that we publish this journal for the flower lover and not the scientist, although the contents of Av every issue will be found strictly in accord with the best science. The most satisfactory proof that THe AMERICAN BOTANITS’ is appreciated, however, 1s found in the fact that as this third issue goes to press, we have more subscribers on our list than the Plant }’orld had at the end of its second year! This ought to be suf- ficient for our critics. It is well known that the late Grant Allen was a naturalist long before he was a novelist; but he soon found that writing on natural history subjects did not pay financially, and turned his at- tention to more lucrative fields. Notwithstanding the change in his subject-matter he always had a fondness for the real natural history and a fine contempt for the hair-splitting scientist who works for glory rather than for love of his subject. His opinions upon this point are constantly cropping out even in his novels. In “The Vents’ of Shem,’ he makes one of his characters say: “There are two kinds of naturalists, you know. ‘The superior class live in London or Paris, examine everything minutely with a big microscope, tack on inches of Greek nomenclature to an in- significant mite or bit of moss and split hairs against anybody Witt) marvellous ‘dexterity, Uhats science. It dwells in ‘a museum. For my part I detest it. The inferior class live in Europe, Asia, Africa or America, as fate or fancy carries, and instead of looking at everything in a dried specimen, go out into the woods with rifle on shoulder or box in hand and observe the birds, the beasts and green things of the earth, as God made them, in their own natural and lovely surroundings. That’s natural history, old-fashioned, simple, common-place natural history, and I for my part am an old-fashioned naturalist.” This expresses the matter very nicely and will no doubt appeal to many who de- light simply to wander among the flowers without a care for the long names by which the scientist knows them. —A Laboratory Manual of Elementary Biology, by Prof. F. D. Heald, of Parson’s College, is to be issued in September. BOOKS AND WRITERS. —Ginn & Co. have recently issued a valuable little book for young students of botany. It is by Prof. Geo. F. Atkinson, | and is entitled “ First Studies of Plant Life.’ The principal facts.in the growth and behavior of plants is described in very attractive form. . —The United States Government has just issued a monu- mental work on the flora of Alabama, by Dr. Charles Mohr. It is entitled “Plant Life of Alabama,” and covers more than nine hundred octavo pages, being one of the most elaborate of State floras thus far issued. Besides a systematic catalogue of the plants of the State there is an interesting account of their dis- tribution and adaptations. Nearly forty-five hundred species and - varieties are listed, of which number a little more than half are flowering plants. | Several new species are described. Dr. Mohr’s death occurred but a short time before the appearance of his volume, which will remain a most worthy monument to his memory. —~\s a general thing a “local flora,” unless it be a mere list of names, is of greater interest to the botanizer than any botanical Manual. The author of the local flora usually has room here and there to insert observations on the habits and distribution of his piants and gives his work a living interest, while the Manual ali too frequently smacks of dead plants and the herbarium. An unique and most interesting addition to the list of local floras has recently been made in the form of a 65-page pamphlet entitled “Sylvan Ontario,” by W. H. Muldrew, published by William Briggs, Toronto. In addition to a list of the trees, shrubs and vines with notes, there is an excellent key to the species illustrated by 131 drawings of leaves and a very comprehensive glossary. This publication ought to do much to advance the study of the Canadian silva and will be of interest to all plant lovers of East- ern America. It is published at 50 cents. Address, RHODORA Journal of the New England Botanical Club To all interested in the Flora of the North Eastern State Rhodora is indispensable. It aims tointerest the amateur as well as the professional botanist and will be found of per- manent value to all students of our Flora. PUBLISHED MONTHLY Price $1.00 per year. Sample copy sent on receipt of 1c. stamp. WM. P. RICH, Business Mgr. i50 Commercial St., Boston. COMBINATION RATES THE AMERICAN BOTANIST one year and | THE PLANT WORLD, one year........... $1.80 | THE FERN BULLETIN, one year......... I.50 THE BRYOLOGIST, one year............. I.40 THE FORESTER, one year.........ecs0ee 1.30 NATURE STUDY, one year............005: 1.40 MEEHAN’S MONTHLY, one year......... 2.50 RHODORA, ONG VEAL... ccee ease S50 1.80 Address, WILLARD N.CLUTE &CO., Binghamton, N. Y. _.. THE TOWN E NATIVE FLOWER FACTS UR native flowers and ferns are faith- fully portrayed in colorsin Meehans’ Monthly. Each issue contains a magni- ficent and expensive colored plate which is botanically accurate. A descriptive chapter accompanies this, giving in a readable way full information, history | curious lore pertaining tothe plant. Be- sides, our magazine is crowded with other useful horticultural information,—all sub- jects being treated in a masterly manner. CONCISE, USEFUL, INTERESTING AND INSTRUCTIVE, | itis very well worth $2.00 for a year, $1.00 for six months, or 20 cents for a sam- ple copy. No free copies—too expensive. A Book telling all about Trees is sent for 6 cents in postage | THOMAS MEEHAN & SONS, Publishers, GERMANTOWN, PHILA., PA. BEAUTIFUL . 22 Practical Suggestions in Landscape Gardening For Improving Streets, Parks, School and Station Grounds, Cemeteries, Etc., are given in PARK and CEMETERY and LANDSCAPE GARDENING Published Monthly Subscription, one year $1.00 Single Copy, 10 cents R. J. HAIGHT, Publisher A Quarterly Journal devoted to the Mosses. Contains also Articles on the Hepatics and Lichens. Profusely Illustrated. Numbersamong its Contributors nearly all the leading American Bryologists. FIFTY CENTS PER ANNUSI Address subscriptions and inquiries to MRS. ANNIE MORRILL SMITH 78 Orange Street Brookiyn, N. Y. 324 DEARBORN ST., CHICAGO THE BRYOLOGIST NATURE + STUDY "A monthly magazine published under the auspices of the Manchester In- stitute of Arts and Sciences DEVOTED TO THEENGOURAGEMENT OF THE STUDY OF NATURE Of the Rocks, the Birds, the Flowers and all the multitude of living things that craw! or swim, walk or fly. 590c. PER ANNUM IN ADVANCE SAMPLE COPY SENT ON APPLICATION NATURE STUDY, . . Manchester, N. H. NINN NNEC NT VRAD AR ae ‘ THE IDEAL LIBRARY. J It is an old saying that the man of culture should know : “something of everything and everything of something.” s This is an age of specialization, however, and we too frequently be- E) come so engrossed in knowing everything of something, that we « : have no time for the something of everything. In such a case, yy , J ; ) E E y E) » : the next best thing to knowing a thing, is to know where informa- tion about it can be found.- The man whose library is well stocked with books relating to his hobby, and which contains, in addition, a good text-book in each of the other branches of knowledge, has an ideal collection of books, and one that will prevent him from bothering his friends with many an “easy” question. “Our Ferns in Their Haunts” is a volume designed expressly to stand in this relation to fern study. Although it is not a text-book in the usual sense, all the ferns of Eastern America are accurately described in it and their ranges given. Just where the other text- % books leave off this volume is strongest; for it gives all the curious superstitions and folk-tales connected with each species and is a mine of information for those who want to know more about a plant than the mere name. And then,the illustrations— more than two hundred superb specimens, several of which are in color—come in to show the species as it is. ‘These illustrations have never been surpassed in works on American ferns. The other features, the extensive glossary, the checklist of species, the illustrated key to the families, etc., speak for themselves. It is sufficient to say that no other book so complete has yet been pub- lished on ferns in this country. It is just the volume to present to a nature-loving friend. For the beginner in fern-study it also has no equal: anyone can identify any of our native ferns by its use. The language is untechnical and all the common names are given. OUR FERNS IN THEIR HAUNTS A GUIDE TO ALL OUR NATIVE SPECIES BY WILLARD N. CLUTE 8 vo,, CLOTH, 332 pages and 215 illustrations. Price, $2.15 NET. Sent postpaid for $2.35 Address, WILLARD N. CLUTE & CO., Binghamton, N. Y. Deaton tat atayataratar at. 4 ( ( C 4 ( ‘ 4 G C 4 ( es \ fee ae 4 4 « ‘ C 4 a ¢ ( 4 { ‘< ¢ NP PB GP DA II I A DIS DS a 9 gw a NEN NNN NN ON ‘ 4 ' + : ; ) F ; y » ‘Pak “) r 2 a “4 A (7 » » >, » b > 10 CENTS A COPY ¥” $1.00 A YEAR ¥ Ofhe AMERICAN BOTANIST A MONTHLY JOURNAL FOR THE PLANT LOVER OCTOBER, 1901 BINGHAMTON, N. Y. WILLARD N. CLUTE @ CO. THE AMERICAN BOTANIST A Monthly Journal for the Plant Lover Issued on the 1:5th of Each Month WILLARD N. CLUTE, 3 : é 5 EDITOR RATES OF SUBSCRIPTION to Cents a Copy; 60 Cents a Volume; $1.00 a Year, (Two Volumes) In Clubs of Two, 90 Cents a Year; In Clubs of Five, 80 Cents a Year. ALL SUBSCRIPTIONS BEGIN WITH THE VOLUME Articles relating to Piants and Plant-Lore Solicited. Address ail communications to WILLARD N. CLUTE & CO., Publishers, Binghamton, New York Entered at the Post Office at Binghamton, N. Y., as Second Class Matter, Aug. 22, 1901. AMERICAN GARDENING Established in 1846 Issued Every Saturday Subscription Price $1.50 per year The Leading Horticultural Publication of the American Continent - »« - « SAMPLE COPIES FREE .... We also Sell Books on Horticultural and Kindred Topics » AMERICAN GARDENING PUBLISHING COMPANY 136 LIBERTY STREET, NEW YORK ALL LOVERS OF NATURE And others who are interested in the progress of Biology, Archzology, Botany, Mineralogy, Astronomy, Entomology, Photography, Chemistry, Hygiene, Health, etc., should not fail to secure, as a regular visitor to their home, Popular Bcience Rews INSTRUCTIVE INTERESTING Of great value to teachers and persons engaged in educational work. This illustrated popular journal was established in 1866 by the late Dr. James R. Nichols, as the Boston Journal of Chemistry and now contains, asa department Hall’s Journal of Health, established in 1854. SUBSCRIPTION PRICE $1.60 A YEAR Three Months Trial Subscription Free Address all communications to POPULAR Sole NC | ie vv Ss IOS FULTON STREET, NEW YORK CITY There are but three Botanical Journals in America older than THE FERN BULLETIN This is one indication of its value. Other indications will be found in a Sample Copy which may be had for a two-cent stamp. Price of current number rs cents. Send for it. Address, WILLARD N. CLUTE & CO., Binghamton, N. Y. Re ebb Ty a ae Se Ay lv fn ee eh Vel Sy ae Ae y, Aiea We a aNeer ot a bon a rae bliin SK, 1 Skee Fe wea Pea ee VN Oa Be oe if Pett 2 Bh ; ," Oka ty ) ey c iste Ee ae 4 vig te, » Deh a SQN te ge a a fd aes a) sh me MY ee re ar Pasty . i aon ye ri , aioe lap erie ae | ge = eS a Peg, 5, eee elt i Jd THE AMERICAN BOTANIST OE. t. OCTOBER, IQOI. No. 4. A LIVING COMPASS. By Ex.mMa Iona LOCKE. “Look at this vigorous plant that lifts its head from the neadows, See how its leaves are turned to the north, as true as the magnet ; This is the compass-flower, that the finger of God has planted Here in the houseless wild, to direct the traveler’s journey Over the sea-like, pathless, limitless waste of desert.”’ In the Botanies there are described about twenty varieties of the genus Silphium,; the tallest, which may well be called a “‘vig- orous plant,” since it grows anywhere from three to twelve feet in height, is Silphiwm laciniatum, variously called compass plant, pilot plant, and rosin weed. On the western prairies, where its use in former times may well be imagined, this plant is found growing in profusion. It was in 1842 that Major Alvord, of the United States army, wrote a description of it, but so strange a matter was for some time dis- credited by scientists. The various suppositions put forth by Major Alvord, in explanation of its singular behavior, being proved erroneous, it remained for Dr. Gray to discover the true explanation. A large tuft of what one might describe as giant oak leaves rise from a root in size well proportioned to the plant, as one will find if he tries to dig it. These leaves are singularly constructed. 50 With most plants there is an upper and under surface to the leaves plainly indicated by their structure, but in the compass plant both sides of the leaf are alike, and both being equally sensi- tive to the light, in their evenly balanced struggle to gain the sun- shine, they assume the position which has given the plant its name of compass, standing nearly upright and presenting their edges, not their tips, directly north and south. The plant is a large, rather coarse looking perennial, with a rough, hairy surface and a resinous juice. The leaves are deeply lobed, or toothed, and in rich meadows sometimes grow from one and a half to two feet or more in length, and a foot or more broad. From this group of massive leaves rises the tall flower stalk with its yellow flowers, showing by their resemblance to its near rela- tive, the sunflower, that this plant belongs to that immense family, the Compositae. Unlike the sunflower, the blossoms are small, but doubtless they increase in size under cultivation, as the florists are now offering the plant under the name of Sylphiuim, and recommending it highly as an ornamental plant with large flowers. There are some erroneous ideas current regarding this plant. It has been imagined by some to be magnetic, and others appear to have the notion that its blossoms instead of the leaves are the parts that constitute the ““compass.”’ As to the uniformity with which it shows the points of the compass, a careful observer, after an examination of a large number of specimens, reported that one- third of them bore within half a point of north, and two-thirds within a point. “ Weeds are active enemies, not to be despised so much as hated. ‘They are cut down or uprooted whenever found. 5o ‘great a pest are they that man has taken them for a type of rank, rapid and useless growth. Yet, when curiosity leads us to ob- serve them, we find beauty even in the meanest.’—W. W. Bailey. > i, RHODORA Journal of the New England Botanical Club To allinterested in the Flora of the North Eastern State Rhodora is indispensable. It aims tointerest the amateur as well asthe professional botanist and will be found of per- manent value to all students of our Flora. PUBLISHED MONTHLY Price $1.00 per year. Sample copy sent on receipt of rc. stamp. Address, WM. P. RICH, Business Mgr. {50 Commercial St., Boston. ONLY THINK A WORK ON THE BIRDS OF NORTH AMERICA CONTAINING OVER 3,000 PAGES AND NEARLY AS MANY y ; FINE ILLUSTRATIONS MANY OF @higM FROM LIFE. MONTALY. CENTS A YEAR. Interesting Articles by Prominent Writers a SAMPLE COPY FREE. Mention BOTANIST AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY, WORCESTER, MASS. STA. A. NATIVE FLOWER FACTS UR native flowers and ferns are faith- fully portrayed in colorsin Meehans’ Monthly. Each issue contains a magni- ficent and expensive colored plate which is botanically accurate. A descriptive chapter accompanies this, giving in a readable way full information, history curious lore pertaining tothe plant. Be- sides, our magazine is crowded with other useful horticultural information,—all sub- jects being treated in a masterly manner. CONCISE, USEFUL, INTERESTING AND INSTRUCTIVE, it is very well worth $2.00 fora year, $1.00 for six months, or 20 cents for a sam- ple copy. No free copies—too expensive, A Book telling all about Trees is sent for 6 cents.in postage THOMAS MEEHAN & SONS, Publishers, GERMANTOWN, PHILA., PA. COMBINATION RATES | THE AMERICAN BOTANIST one year and THE PLANT WORLD, one yeart........... $1.80 THE FERN BULLETIN, one year......... 1.50 THE BRYOLOGIST, one year..........5.. 1.40 THE FORESTER, one year...s.....s0se008 2:80 NATURE STUDY, one year.......scsesseee 1.40 MEEHAN’S MONTHLY, one year......... 2.50 RHODORA, ONE Year.c.issssecseecsecccsens 1.80 Address, WILLARD N.CLUTE &CO., Binghamton, N. Y. _.. THE TOWN BEAUTIFUL... Practical Suggestions in Landscape Gardening : For Improving Streets, Parks, School and Station Grounds, Cemeteries, Etc., are given in PARK and CEMETERY and LANDSCAPE GARDENING Published Monthly Subscription, one year $1.00 Single Copy, 10 cents R. J. HAIGHT, Publisher 324 DEARBORN ST., CHICAGO FP IS SID BD DD DPI 9 NOPD PIII TI —~ " aon J@ AN EXPERT OPINION. ete SoS ' Turning away from the flying and creeping things of the 33 ee earth and from the snap-shot methods necessary to portray their | life, a feeling of coolness and repose comes to us from between the @ leaves of “Our Ferns in their Haunts.” Last week, driving on } the Parkman road, near the head of Lake George, we watered the | horse at a barrel, fed from a spring on the hillside by the hol- lowed-out half of a tree-trunk.- We climbed the slope above it and gathered quantities of ferns, differing, while the horse jogged on again, as to whether this or the florist’s delicate pet was the real “‘maidenhair.” There was no untechnical book in our col-— lection, nor did we know of any in which we could “look it up.” The next mail brought this book. It opened to a pen-and-ink sketch of what looked like our drinking place. Further on in the ; book we found—was it the very clump from which our ferns had 4 ) been taken? It might have been, for the surroundings seemed g ¥ identical. Our questions were answered, as were several others, pf) and we were given a digestible morsel of science with a salad of & 5 maidenhair folk-lore, all served up in the best of descriptive f) English. The make up of the book is admirable. The colored : plates, wash drawings and pen-and-ink sketches are artistic and F) at the same time accurate in detail, and the bits of quoted verse and folk-lore are as attractive as the illustrations.—Literary Col-— lector. " wo, y Ay OO AIT MTN AMI cM ATM TM eat nit f SAT AIM IN ATTN TO -¥ , 7 / ae. ~ a A MN AM AO i . aa BE FF "x Pg a . Ty we + of OUR FERNS IN THEIR HAUNTS A GUIDE TO ALL OUR NATIVE SPECIES BY WILLARD N. CLUTE 8 vo., CLOTH, 332 pages and 215 illustrations. Price, $2.15 NET. Sent postpaid for $2.35 wa See a a a a Od Od BO ee Address, WILLARD N. CLUTE & CO., Binghamton, N. Y. 4 av awe PPE BPO PE> LE LOLOV>QLI OO LB LO LON LO LON OD LON LON OO PPL ~ a ~§ Bi 10 CENTS A COPY ¥ $1.00 A YEAR ¥ Ghe AMERICAN BOTANIST | A MONTHLY JOURNAL FOR THE PLANT LOVER NOVEMBER, 1901 BINGHAMTON, N. Y. WILLARD N. CLUTE @ CoO. G-Series eee Se a = ae ee ee THE AMERICAN BOTANIST A Monthly Journal for the Plant Lover Issued on the 15th of Each Month WILLARD -N. CLUTE, 2 F . P EDITOR RATES OF SUBSCRIPTION tro Cents a Copy; 60 Cents a Volume; $1.00 a Year, (Two Volumes) In Clubs of Two, 90 Cents a Year; In Ciubs of Five, 80 Cents a Year. : ALL SUBSCRIPTIONS BEGIN WITH THE VOLUME fs: Articles relating to Plants and Plant-Lore Solicited. se a Address all communications to ee: WILLARD N. CLUTE & CO., Publishers, Binghamton, New York ae. Entered at the Post Office at Binghamton, N. Y., as Second Class Matter, Aug. 22, 1gor. 2 4 ... THE TOWN BEAUTIFUL. Practical Suggestions in Landscape Gardening For Improving Streets, Parks, School and Station Grounds, Cemeteries, Etc., are given in PARK and CEMETERY and LANDSCAPE GARDENING Published Monthly Subscription, one year $1.00 Single Copy, 10 cents - R. J. HAIGHT, Publisher 324 DEARBORN ST., CHICAGO ALL LOVERS OF NATURE And others who are interested in the progress of Biology, Archzeology, Botany, Mineralogy, Astronomy, Entomology, Photography, Chemistry, Hygiene, Health, etc., should not fail to secure, as a regular visitor to their home, Popular Bcience Rews INSTRUCTIVE INTERESTING Of great value to teachers and persons engaged in educational work. This illustrated popular journal was established in 1866 by the late Dr. James R. Nichols, as the Boston Journal of Chemistry and now contains, as a department Hall’s Journal of Health, established in 1854. SUBSCRIPTION PRICE $1.60 A YEAR Three Months Trial Subscription Free Address all communications to rPorVlULAR. SceENCcEeE NE Wvs IOS FULTON STREET, NEW YORK CITY ENLARGED AGAIN With the January issue the FERN BULLETIN will be enlarged by the addition of eight more pages. This is the eighth time that the journal has been enlarged. Last year it was awarded Grand Prize at the Paris exposition. It goes to twelve foreign countries and to nearly every botanist of prominence in America. It. should be in your library if not there already. 75 cents a year.—Quarterly. WILLARD N. CLUTE & CO., Publishers, Binghamton, N. Y. Poe) Sea sete wap r eartie, & ae 4 Oy ES > . ae Hf Or ewer fied ee mi Jf frees LP ATR, PRI oa he oe : ag kt azo ay wit ow & oe: i, e THE AMERICAN BOTANIST niga. k. NOVEMBER, I9QOI. No. 5 THE INDIAN PIPE. By Ernest WATERS VICKERS. In one of my October strolls while filling my pockets with nuts and my heart with the glories which flee so speedily away, I came upon three little brothers of the spectral pipe. Not since my walks in the August woods on pilgrimages to a certain bank of ferns in an opening where the gorgeous plume of a purple- fringed orchid formed the shrine, had I seen this interesting flower. This is the pow-wow pipe of my vocabulary—of purest, waxiest white, with a feeble salmon fire in the bowl. Pow-wow pipe rather as if nature had in mind the vanishing of the Red man when she placed this as a memorial in her wild garden. If any plant seems the product of enchantment it is this. At first glance it strikes the beholder as a fungus which has the gift of bloom. What experiences has it passed through that it should be turned gray, or what has it seen in the dark watches of the night that its chlorophyll should run white in its veins ? The witches of old Salem must have known and fondled it out on the needle carpets of the hemlock and pine shadowe'l woods, and I think it must have been in Hawthorne’s enchanted forests where little Pearl played by the brook. It was born and bred in shadows deep where no health-giving, life-getting sun- beams fell. Yet it has a strange secret or retained sort of pleasant odor saved from better days, as though it had struggled to be a perfect flower and not this abortive uncanny thing. Circum- stances were too much for it; but it is to be loved for what it is, a 66 perfect, living flower modeled in wax by nature’s own hand, and so delicate that after a few days it withers away in blackness. I sometimes wonder what European folk-lore would have done with my pow-wow pipe had it smouldered in her realm. Someone has proposed the name ‘‘Pipe of Henry Hudson’s crew” for it. Dead man’s finger and corpse plant are unfit names for it and seem to have been given to it by those utterly devoid of fancy or reason. : SOME ABNORMAL FLOWERS. By Jc. SHEED. Several specimens of roses were brought into the laboratory last spring as curiosities, on account of the abnormal development of the flowers. It was learned afterwards that they were rather common ona few bushes about town. Instead of the usual man- ner of blossoming, a second bud grew up out of the center of the flowers and finally opened like the first. The second flower was complete, as far as calyx and petals were concerned. m4 a AN ON NT ae a a, a A CHRISTMAS PRESENT. It can scarcely be called a selfish spirit that prompts the giver * of presents at Christmas time, to select things that will not be laid aside after the holidays are past, to be speedily forgotten, or to | be sent to the attic in company with other Christmas presents of bygone days. We like to think that our presents are both orna- mental and useful; that the recipients will keep them near at hand and often, when using them, think of the giver. Under such conditions could anything be more appropriate for a present than a book? Not a novel that will be of no interest as soon as * read; not a work of reference that may possibly be consulted once | or twice a year; but some good live volume on a subject that can- not be mastered in a moment. Out-of-door books are especially good, for there are none of us that do not take pleasure in going into the country once in a while, and in learning a little each year _ about the interesting denizens of field and wood. The bookstores — are full of such books at present, but few have the three-fold dis-_ tinction possessed by “Our Ferns in Their Haunts” of being lucidly written; of dealing with some of the most fascinating | forms in nature; and of being appropriately illustrated. The illustrations alone make this a valuable gift-book, even if the re- cipient knows nothing about ferns—or, what is much rarer—_ cares nothing for them. It is just the book to stimulate the child to look closer into the secrets of Nature; while the older nature- lover will find an interesting subject, clearly presented. Itisa @ guide to all our native ferns, contains 215 illustrations and 332 § pages of text, and will be sent postpaid for $2.35. Address @ t Witrarp N. Ciute & Co., Binghamton, N. Y. ak: if NAIM OM MOD FON ON ON OO ON LN LON te as ay é ¥ a i 74 SN ZO ON OS ON I OO ea fords ¢ i , A 7 mag 0 & ye - ry heer > wr . 3S ae a Ghd 10 CENTS A COPY ¥ $1.00 A YEAR ¥ Ohe AMERICAN BOTANIST A MONTHLY JOURNAL FOR THE PLANT LOVER | 3 DECEMBER, 1901 BINGHAMTON, N. Y. A WILLARD N. CLUTE @ Co. THE AMERICAN BOTANIST | ye A Monthly Journal for the Plant Lover Issued on the 15th of Each Month ~— WILLARD N. CLUTE, = = 4 = EDITOR RATES OF SUBSCRIPTION ro Cents a Copy; 60 Cents a Volume; $r.00 a Year, (Two Volumes) In Clubs of Two, 90 Cents a Year; In Clubs of Five, 80 Cents a Year. ALL SUBSCRIPTIONS BEGIN WITH THE VOLUME Articles relating to Plants and Plant-Lore Solicited. Address a!l communications to WILLARD N. CLUTE & CO., Publishers, Binghamton, New York > Entered at the Post Office at Binghamton, N. Y., as Second Class Matter, Aug. 22, 1901. THE TOWN BEAUTIFUL Practical Suggestions in Landscape Gardening For Improving Streets, Parks, School and Station Grounds, Cemeteries, Etc., are given in PARK and CEMETERY and LANDSCAPE GARDENING Published Monthly Subscription, one year $1.00 Single Copy, 10 cents R. J. HAIGHT, Publisher 324 DEARBORN ST., CHICAGO ALL LOVERS OF NATURE And others who are interested in the progress of Biology, Archzology, Botany, Mineralogy, Astronomy, Entomology, Photography, Chemistry, Hygiene, Health, — etc., should not fail to secure, as a regular visitor to their home, Popular Science Rews INSTRUCTIVE INTERESTING * Of great value to teachers and persons engaged in educational work. This illustrated popular journal was established in 1866 by the late Dr. James R. Nichols, as the Boston Journal of Chemistry and now contains, as a department Hall’s Journal of Health, established in 1854. SUBSCRIPTION PRICE $1.60 A YEAR Three Months Trial Subscription Free Address all communications to iOS FULTON STREET, NEW YORK CITY : ENLARGED AGAIN With the January issue the FERN BULLETIN will be enlarged by the addition of eight more pages. This is the eighth time that the journal has been enlarged. Last year it was awarded Grand Prize at the Paris exposition. It goes to twelve foreign countries and to nearly every botanist of prominence in America, It should be in your library if not there already. 75 cents a year.—Quarterly. WILLARD N. CLUTE & CO., Publishers, Binghamton, N. Y. ane: ° THE AMERICAN BOTANIST Vou. I. DECEMBER, IQOI. No. 6 THE WANING YEAR IN THE SOUTH. By WILLARD N. CLurTE. The frost is the magic dye-stuff with which Nature colors the garments of Autumn. ‘The brilliant hues that crowd the green out of our Northern forests, late in the year, are rarely seen in regions unconquered by the cold. In our country they extend south, however, much farther than many imagine. ‘The inhabitants of the New England and Middle States are likely to think of the Gulf States as the land of continued sunshine and flowers, but even these States know the sensations that come irom freezing temperatures and flurries of snow. Their Autumn is not so unlike a Northern Autumn, except that it is slower in coming and more deliberate in passing. It 1s usually late in November before the brightest tints are assumed. Although many districts lack that pride of Northern forests, the red maple, its place in the color scheme is not vacant. ‘The sweet gum rather more than makes up for the loss. Its starry leaves put on many tints of scarlet and maroon that the maple cannot reach. And the sour gum (.Vyssa) displays the same vivid coloring that makes it so attractive in the North. I do not know whether the oaks are more brilliantly colored here than further north, or whether they merely appear so against a back- eround of dark green pines. At any rate, they are most con- spicuous in various shades of red, yellow and bronze. ‘There is, however, one remarkable exception to this in the live oak, which in these scenes of change and decay remains clothed in living ereen—a truly live oak. 82 The more I see of the live oak, the more I find to admire in it. The long sweeping strands of gray “Spanish moss” with which it is always ornamented, gives it a venerable appearance and a solemnity not found in other trees. Its short massive trunk and long level branches are not in the least like the airy gracefulness of the elm, and yet I find myself often associating them, mentally. Both have a sort of brooding, sheltering -air that make them ideal trees for planting near dwellings. I do not know of a nobler object in Nature than an ancient live oak. One marvels at the sight of perfectly horizontal branches fifty feet in length. A close rival of the oaks in effective coloring is that counter- part of the tamarack in Southern swamps, the bald cypress ( Taxo- dium distychum). Like its northern ally it insists upon its little nap in winter and prepares for the event by dropping its leaves, becoming bald indeed. Before the leaves fall they turn to a fine reddish bronze that for some time spreads a pleasant light through its swampy retreats and blends harmoniously with the yellows of the ever abundant poison ivy. There are a few dashes of color in the Southern Autumn not given by the leaves. That form of fruit, the berry, so abundant in the North, seems here to give way largely to the seed cup; at least T have been struck by the absence of berries in the thickets. But one must not overlook the dark shining berries of the cat brier (Smilax), whose prickly stems festoon the leafless shubbery by the wayside; nor can he omit the crimson fruits that cover the branches of the winterberry (//c1) in moist places. The flower- ing dogwood (Cornus) is usually abundant also, and more heavily fruited, at least this year, than I have ever seen it in the North. There is still another berry, which, while it does not lend a special note to the landscape, may well be mentioned in this con- - nection. I refer to the May-pop. Here and there swinging in the sunny thickets one sees this great berry, the size of a hen’s egg or larger, still hanging on the vines. From these evidences it is easy tc construct the Summer scene, and one imagines the glorious 85 blossoms of the passion flower in place of these yellowing fruits. In the list of economic products these fruits have no importance, hut children are fond of them and they rarely go ungathered. The construction of the fruit reminds one of the fruit of the mandrake or May-apple. ‘The seeds are surrounded by a thin pulp and much juice. Only this juice and pulp is eaten. It is quite pleasant to the taste, being sweet and with a spicy flavor, re- minding one strongly of its tropical relative, the grenadilla. it may be queried 1n passing why this fruit which ripens in Autumn should be called the AWay-pop. Even in the South there are many trees that drop their leaves in Autumn, and not a few that do so without a suggestion of bright colors—with no last lingering contribution to the gorgeous pageant that is passing. ‘The time for their winter’s sleep having come, they begin it quietly and without ceremony, as a hibernating animal might go into its winter quarters. As the brown leaves fall a world within a world is revealed, for high among the leaf- less branches are great numbers of trim round tufts of mistletoe. These balls of green in the treetops give the deciduous forests a curious appearance in winter. All summer long they have flourished unnoticed, but now the golden green of their foliage 1s conspicuous enough to constantly remind one of the approaching holidays. While the mistletoe flaunts its colors from its elevated perch the shining prickly leaves of the holly are to be seen nearer the earth. In fact, the underwood seems scarcely to have changed color. There is life welling up from the warm moist earth that the frost cannot overcome. Many plants, it is true, are leafless and dead; but these finished their work long before chilly nights came, and dropped their leaves without a hint from the frost. The palmetto still shows in lush green thickets over millions of acres of swamp land and a multitude of other green things occur whose leaves give the stranger botanizer no clue to their families or relationships, and so cannot be mentioned here. Thus Autumn fares in the State of Mississippi, but as one 54 continues southward into Louisiana a gradual change in land- scape and temperature makes him begin to distrust his calendar. A soft warm breeze comes up from the Gulf; men are at work in the fields setting out lettuce and cabbage plants or planting seeds of radishes and other hardy vegetables in full expectation that the conung weeks will bring them full crops; and in the gardens the violets are blooming again. Surely this is more like spring as the Northerner knows it! 3 The second blooming of the violets is especially interesting. The scientist is inclined to fancy the petal-less or cleistogamous flowers to differ in some essential particular from the showy ones; but the behavior of the plants here show plainly that each kind of flower is merely the result of a different temperature. During the cooler parts of the year the showy flowers are pro- duced, but as the heat increases the flowers begin to dispense with petals and thus the apetalous flowers are found. ‘lhe common blue violet of the North has this same trait. The Northern Autumn, however, 1s too short to permit much of a show of. flowers at that season. At the North, Winter and Summer separate the violet’s season of bloom into two seasons; here Win- ter is powerless and the flowers appear throughout the Winter months and far into Spring. The flowers in the wild lands have now about gone. It is somewhat exasperating to the flower lover to come upon woods and fields that can bloom but will not. This is just the weather that in the Northern States would give us hepaticas, blood-root, anemones and trilliums, but here Nature makes no sign. She rests if she does not sleep—no doubt she dozes in January. In marked contrast to the country side the lawns and gardens of the cities show scarcely any diminution of bloom. One of the chief elories of the Autumn days has been the flowers of the Cosmos, . a bushy annual of the sunflower family, six feet or more high, that from October until mid-December or later is covered with a profusion of flowers the size of a silver dollar. ‘The prevailing color is orange, but there are many shades of purple and white. 85 Even more conspicuous is the Poinsettia, whose great flowering bracts have lately taken on the most vivid scarlet tints and now fairly dazzle the eye. The Lantana bushes are still covered with vellow and orange bloom and chrysanthemums are plenty. But the roses, ah, the roses! ‘Truly the rose is queen of flowers and reigns here undisputed. Such flowers as scent the air even in small gardens can be found in the North only in the most favored ereenhouses. So long as one may stroll among such blossoms there is no need to sigh for the departure of Summer. THE WANDERINGS OF ALFALFA. Talk about blue blood ; that would be a proud member of the four Hundred who could trace his lineage back as far as can a certain cousin to the clovers that may occasionally be picked on our lawns and vacant lots and by the roadside. ‘This scion of an ancient race is alfalfa, which is clover-like in foliage and flower, but the blossoms are blue. Twenty-five centuries and more ago, when Athens was the hub of the universe and all the outer world was considered barbarian by the Greeks, alfalfa dwelt unostenta- uiously in the valleys of that part of Western Asia inhabited by the Medes and Persians. When the wars arose between those people and the Grecians, and Darius made his famous expeditions into Greece, our little plant appears to have gone along. Perhaps its seeds were transported by accident in the camp baggage of the Persian hordes, or possibly some enterprising Greek prisoner escaping from Media, brought seeds home with him and _ es- tablished the culture of the plant in his native country. At any rate, into Greece it came about five centuries before Christ, and doubtless helped to make Alexander's charger Bucephalus the horse he was. When Greece became absorbed into the Roman Empire, alfalfa won the favor of the conquerors, who cultivated it extensively for fodder, for their army horses, and introduced its culture into Italy. The poet Virgil mentions the piant in the Georgies under the name of Medica a word which in spite of Caan Se ed: aS eT ce 86 its looks has nothing etymologically to do with medicine, but simply means the herb from Media. From Italy its culture spread northward into Middle Europe, and westward into Spain. It was in the latter country that the name alfalfa, an Arabic term, became attached to it, indicating that.it was under cultivation in the Spanish peninsula at the time of the Moorish occupation. When Spain extended her sovereignty across the Atlantic a new world was opened for alfalfa to conquer, and it made good use of the opportunity, establishing itself as a blessing in the loody trail of devastation which the Spanish conquistadors of the sixteenth century left behind them in Mexico and Peru. In arid regions, where no succulent grass would grow, and where clover would wither away, the alfalfa was sown, and by reason of its great length of root, which enables it to draw moisture from a great depth, flourished and increased. Down the South American coast it made its way as far as Chile, and from that country it was brought to California a few years after the ad-_ mission of the Golden State to the Union. ‘Thence its fame as a valuable hay plant possible of growth in the dry lands traveled throughout the West, until now it is the staple fodder crop on the Pacific coast and in the Rocky Mountain region, from Montana to the Gulf of Mexico. In Pennsylvania the abundance of other fodder plants has tended to keep the virtues of the alfalfa in the hackground, but in New York State it has been more or less cul- tivated for many years.—C. F. Saunders in Philadelphia Record. HOW SOME SEEDS ARE PLANTED. Examine a fruit of the common Dog Violet. — It is a little capsule formed of three sections. As it ripens it opens along the lines of junction of these, and we get three narrow boat-shaped valves spreading horizontally from the fruit-stem, and each con- taining several seeds. ‘The drying of these valves causes contrac- tion. ‘The two gunwales, so to speak, of each boat are drawn to- gether, pressing more and more tightly on the seeds which lie >? (eae 87 between, till one by one the seeds spring out with considerable force. Some of the Crane’s-bills fling their seeds to a considerable distance by means of a more complicated apparatus. ‘The fruit consists of five separate carpels attached by their apices to a spindle. Each carpel consists of an egg-shaped pouch containing one seed, prolonged into a slender rod, the whole adpressed to the spindle, so that the five pouches lie in a ring round its base. Each pouch is open on the side which is pressed against the spindle. As the fruit ripens, the more rapid shrinking of the outer layers of the rod of the carpel causes it to rupture the tissue which at- taches it by its whole length to the spindle, and it curls with a jerk, carrying up the pouch, and causing the seed to fly out of the Opening on its inner side already referred to. Lord Avebury placed fruits of the Herb Robert on his billiard table, and found that the seeds were in this manner projected to a distance of over twenty feet. Fruits of this kind have been aptly named sling- fruits. Nor is it beyond the powers of certain species to under- take even the planting of their seeds. The Stork’s-bills (Erodium), which are closely allied to the Crane’s-bills or Geraniums, have curious fruits, each consisting of a torpedo-shaped seed prolonged into a slender twisted rod, which terminates in a long appendage set at right angles to the axis of the remainder of the fruit. The seed is furnished with bristles pointing away from the unattached end; and the twisted tail is hygroscopic—very sensitive to moisture. Now, if the seed be held fast, and the whole moistened, the rod will untwist, and, as a result, the free end will revolve like the hand of a clock. But if, as will more likely happen in Nature, this revolution causes the long appendage to come in contact with some obstacle—a blade of grass, for instance—then the motion will be transferred to the seed-bearing end, which will revolve like an auger, and, as a result of the lengthening caused by the untwisting of the rod, the seed will be forced into the ground. The upward-pointing bristles will come into play if the rod dries again, tending to hold the seed down in its place in spite of the contraction, and to drag down the opposite end instead; another moistening will cause the seed to burrow deeper.—Knovledge. DEATH OF THOMAS MEEHAN. The long and eventful career of Thomas Meehan was one by his death at Germantown, Pa., November 19, at the age of 75 years. Mr. Meehan came of an old Irish family and was born near London, England, March, 31, 1826. Asa boy he showed a marked fondness for botanical study and at the age of 15 pub- lished his first scientific paper. Subsequently he pursued a course of study at the famous Kew Gardens, and having decided to make horticulture and botany his life work, emigrated to America, land- ing in New York on his twenty-second birthday. Shortly after-_ ward he went to Philadelphia, where the rest of his life was spent. His sterling qualities as citizen and scientist won him many unsought honors. He was elected and continuously re-elected a member of the Philadelphia City Council for his district for a quarter of a century, and was also a member of the Board of Education for nearly as long. He has been vice-president of the Philadelphia Academy of Sciences for twenty-three years and was State Botanist of Pennsylvania under Governor Hoyt. As a member of the City Council, Mr. Meehan began a movement to secure more small parks for the city and succeeded in adding twenty-three to the number. ‘he first of these was the famous Bartram’s garden, and among the others was the garden of McMahon, an early Philadelphia horticulturist. Mr. Meehan’s contributions to science are said to number nearly a thousand titles, and his reputation as a botanist extends to the veriest novice in the science. As a writer he was clear, comprehensive and forceful, with the true literary touch so rarely ‘attained by men of science. He was quick to see the nonsense in any preposterous proposition and was one of the staunchest ad- yocates of a conservative course in species-making and naming. 89 Mr. Meehan’s occupation was that of nurseryman, which business he has carried on, in conjunction with his sons, for many years near Philadelphia. He was also editor of Mechan’s Monthly. Although a very busy man, he always found time to reply to requests for information from less fortunate botanists, end his loss will be mourned by many of us, who, though never having met him, yet look upon him as a friend.—IV’. N.C. VITALITY OF WEED SEEDS. An interesting light has been thrown upon the subject of vitality in weed seeds by Prof. W. J. Beal, in the Michigan Farmer. “In the fall of 18709,” he says, “twenty-two years ago, I selected seeds of twenty-one kinds of plants, all of them com- non weeds except one. A considerable number of sets of these were buried in ‘clean dirt,’ consisting of sand from a depth of about two feet. Fifty seeds of each kind were counted out and tuaced in each bottle which was buried at a depth of two feet. The seeds were well mixed in each bottle with the sand referred to. At periods of five years a set has been dug up and tested. Ac the expiration of twenty years, 7. c., two years ago this fall, one set was taken out and the sand containing the seeds placed in two soup plates and gently watered. Some seeds were prompt 1n coming up and were removed and ‘tallied’ as they were identified. But there were laggards which skulked in the moist sand. I dried off the dirt for a rest from time to time, and on wetting the soil after two weeks to a month or more other seedlings appeared. The last long rest consisted of perhaps eight months, continuing until November 15, 1901. After five days three seedlings are already in sight and I am expecting others after a little more time. As I look at it, the delay of some seeds in germination is of ereat advantage to the weed, for, if a lot of seedlings start there nay be too many to thrive well, and some will be choked and perish. Again, some of the seedlings, or all of them, may be killed by an untimely frost or by the ruthless hand of the tidy farmer and when the ground is stirred there is a reserve of seeds 90 to start another crop as a second planting, and still others may serve as a third or fourth planting. In case all the seeds were favorably exposed when fresh, most of them, possibly all, would germinate. After they had been buried twenty years or more a variable number of seedlings appeared of the following species: Our, most common prickly pig weed, mustard, shepherd’s purse, pepper grass, mayweed, common mallow, evening primrose, smartweed, purslane, narrow leaved dock, a chickweed, the blanket-leaf mullein—twelve in all out of the twenty-one species buried. If any additional lesson were needed regarding the cost of growing a crop of weeds—of permitting weeds to get a start —here it is. If the earth is once well seeded and a man begins at once to keep each weed from going to seed, he will not kill the last seedling of the old crop inside of twenty years or more.” PROPERTIES OF GERANIUM ROOTS. Species of Crane’s-bills growing in Europe and Asia have been known from remote times to possess medicinal virtues. Diosco- rides mentions a plant called geranion as employed for its astrin- sent properties, and Pliny alludes to two species which were lznown in his time. The root of the Herb Robert (Geranium Robertianum) was formerly much used in European medicine for fever, consumption and jaundice, and externally as a resolvent. The herb is now almost entirely neglected. In many parts of the United States the root of G. maculatum is esteemed as one of the best indigenous astringents, and is included in the National Dispensatory. It 1s said to be free from the unpleasant taste and odor of the common European species of Crane’s-bill. Dr. Edward Staples in 1829 found the American drug to contain tannic and gallic acids and a red coloring matter. Messrs. Trimble and Peacock in 1891 again examined several samples of the fresh and dried rhizome and found gallotannic acid to occur to the extent of 3.2 to 6.7 per cent. in the fresh, and 9.7 to 27.8 per cent. in the absolutely dry drug. This principle is present im 91 largest amount in April just before the plant blooms, and rapidly decreases until it reaches a minimum in October; thus pointing to the possibility of its being a storage material to assist the plant in blooming and perfecting its seed. The astringency of other plants of this natural order has heen observed in other parts of the globe. For instance, the root of the wild Pelargonium (Monsonia ovata) of South Africa has attracted attention for many years, and was probably brought to the notice of the early settlers by the natives. ‘This plant is called Neeta or Geita by the Kaffirs, and being very astringent, it has been used with great success in dysentery. The Kaffirs simply chew the root, which somewhat resembles that of the gentian, but a more palatable mixture is made by boil- ing four ounces of the root for twenty minutes in a pint of milk, end one or two tablespoonfuls are given every two hours. ‘The plant is collected in January and February from the Vaal River district. Mr. J. Medley Wood, Curator of the Botanic Gardens, Durban, states that the root of Monsonia biflora is also used for the same purpose in Natal.—J/ndian Gardening and Planting. NOTE, AND COMMENT. WANTED.—Short notes of interest to the general botanist are always in demand for this department. Our readers are in- vited to make this the place of publication for their botanical items. INDIAN Prpe.—The Indian pipe (Monotropa) is fot a specific American plant, as Mr. Ernest Waters Vickers in the November edition of the Boranisr seems to think. I, myself, have collected Monotropa hirsuta (Al. Hypopitys 1.) in Danish forests, where also a smooth variety or species M/. glabra exists. None of them are rare, and of both, but especially of MW. glabra, one-flower forms (MV. wniflora L.?) can be found. Both species are quite at home in Sweden and Norway, in the coniferous forests, of which A/. glabra is the most common species. Nichol- 92 son in Dictionary of Gardening records Hypopitys multiflora (M. Hypopitys) from England, and Asa Gray in his Manual of Botany closes his description of the plant with “(Fu).’—J. P. Pederson. STERILITY OF Hysrips.—Scientific men are fond of throw- ing it up to practical people that they are behind the times; but devotees of science are often among the crowd that live in glass houses and yet throw stones. —Horticulturists have long ago learned that hybrids are as fertile as their parents; and orchids, gesneriaceous plants, and many other classes furnish abundant evidence. But that hybrids are sterile, or generally sterile, is still a doctrine on which many pretty “theories” are founded by leaders in science.—AMechan's Monthly. ——_— Peacn Prrs. Ivy Porsonrnc.—Whether from dearth ot matter or other cause, there seems to be a tendency even in journals devoted to science to make statements that are either sensational or exaggerated. For example in the Borantst I find that it is “not safe to eat many peach pits at once.’ ‘There seems to be as much qualification in this as in an “1f.” 1 am 74 and have for years eaten several peach pits (say half a dozen) two or three times a week, and have found them invaluable as a remedy fer indigestion—indeed I save them for that purpose.—I observed that Popular Science News carefully refrained from committing itself as to whether it was the juice of the flower or the leaves (of jewel weed) that was the curative agent in ivy poisoning. ‘The fact is that the exudation of the poison ivy is a gum that is only more widely scattered by being rubbed with any liquid except ammonia or spirits. Old woodmen chew some of the leaves and claim that the process exempts them. One curious fact that I have never seen referred to is that cattle are very fond of eating it and no baneful effects ensue. ‘This I know.—IV’. [ Notwithstand- ing what our correspondent says, it is well known that peach pits 95 are poisonous if eaten in large numbers. Half a dozen pits, several times a week, however, would scarcely come in_ this aumber.—Ip. | MANKIND’s CRAVING FOR AN ALKALOID.—The notable fact that all substances wherever found which contain the alkaloid “theine’’—it is the characteristic constituent not only of tea, but also of coffee, the mate and guarana of South America and the kola of Central Africa are highly prized by the human race, would seem to prove that this alkaloid satisfies some common craving of all sorts and colors of men. But doctors disagree as to what precisely this craving may be and as to how and why it 1s satisfied by the drinking of tea or coffee —I/ndian Gardening and Planting. Rincs oF ‘TREES.—On page 68, what do you mean by “‘a new ring of wood is formed next to the bark, and a corresponding layer of bark adjoining it?’ Rather hazy is it not? It is not true that “each ring of wood remains a faithful record of the year 12 which it was formed,” if it is intended to convey the idea that only one ring is formed each year. Climate affects this general conclusion. In hot countries several rings are formed each year, there being no season of rest, and the climate not needing the ripening of wood which is essential, indeed, indispensable in cold and coldly temperate climates.—IV’.. [The writer from whom we quoted evidently meant that the ring of wood is formed outside the old wood (next to the bark) and that a new layer of bark 1s formed inside the old bark (next to the wood), which 1s quite cor- rect. ‘The new growth is between the old wood and old bark, part going to form bark and part to form wood. ‘The article was writ- ten for the Northern States, and would not, of course, be ap- plicable to trees in hot countries.—ED. | eS a > _ ee Le EDITORIAL, When this issue is in the mails, the AMERICAN BoTANIsT will be half way through its first year, and at the end of its first volume. It gives us pleasure to state at this time that the journal — in its present shape is absolutely self-supporting. It is a rare thing for a botanical journal ever to be able to get along without assistance from some botanical club or other, and we look upou our success in this instance as an indication that the journal has been cast upon proper lines for the flower lover. If we thought, however, that it would always remain at its present size, we would promptly give up in disgust the task of publishing it. We want a larger magazine and we intend to have it. But it is our design to build slowly and safely. Just as fast as our circulation increases the number of pages will increase. Asan example of our policy, we cannot do better than to refer to our other journal, The Fern Bulletin, which was begun as an eight page publication, but which has increased with succeeding years until every issue now contains thirty-two pages. We are making every effort to advance the circulation of the .\MERICAN BoTaNntst, and expect soon to add another four pages to each issue, without extra cost to our read- ers. If those who know of the journal will only recommend it to their friends, our first increase will come with the next number. As with all new journals, a large number of people have asked for sample copies without subsequently subscribing. But this does not make us uncomfortable; we expect to add them to our list later! There are always many who wait to see whether a journal is going to succeed or not before subscribing, and they are the ones who pay advanced prices for early volumes, just as they are doing to-day in the cases of The Forester, Rhodora and The Fern Bulle- tin. ‘There are also other people who reason with the editor of a - certain botanical journal that a dollar is too much to ask for a 16-page journal. But we reply, where else can you get as much of this kind of botanical lore for the same money? Besides, this is not going to stay a 16-page journal! We thought we started 95 with a sufficient number of copies in reserve; but there are now less than 300 copies of the first volume on hand, and those w vho think of purchasing should do so at once. BOOKS AND WRITERS. —Since the publication of the ‘Illustrated Flora,” by Britton & Brown, Dr. Britton has been at work upon a manual covering the Northern States and Canada, which should embody in a single volume all the essential features of the larger work except the illustrations. This has now appeared from the press of Henry Holt & Co., and is entitled ‘A Manual of the Flora of the North Eastern States and Canada.’ It is a very creditable example of book making, and although containing nearly a thousand more descriptions than the Oth edition of ‘““Gray’s Manual,” is a some- what smaller volume. ‘To one who has no personal interest in the matter the book contains much to praise, as well as much to con- demn. It is the first manual of our flora to be arranged according to the Engler-Prantl sequence of orders and of special value on this account. The greatest interest in this work, however, centers in the author’s use of nomenclature and in his treatment of genera and species. One who turns from the well known “Gray's Manual” to its new rival will be met not only by a bewildering array of new scientific names, but by an equally perplexing num- ker of “new species’ or sub-species. Frequently, but not fre- cuently enough, the descriptions of the latter are followed by the significant phrase, “probably a mere form.” Nevertheless each is dignified by a trinomial in sounding Latin or Greek and backed up by a double citation of authorities. As an example of the changes in names we may take the order Orchidaceae. In “Gray's Manual” this contains seventeen families; in Britton’s the number has grown to twenty-six, the additional families in- volving a change of names in no less than twenty-three species cut of a total of fifty-two in the first named work. Moreover, the “Tlustrated Flora,” published in 1896, contained six generic names that differed from those in ‘“‘Gray’s Manual,” while the \ >? ae 4 ¥ > +) hae Pr 2) ow eee ed * a 7 ae . 96 new work contains ten more that did not appear in the “Illustrated Flora.” ‘The Orchidaceae, it may be noted, is only one of a large number making up our flora. Truly the botanist who can follow e system that permits so many changes in five years, must be easily satished! So long as species-making is governed by in- dividual fancy and based upon no sound fundamental principles, we may expect many new species based upon such trival charac- teristics as color, size or varying degrees of pubescence. It is no surprise to see certain genera, in which the scientists have been most industrious, greatly increased in size. ‘Thus in “Gray’s Manual” Rubus has 11 species; in Britton’s work 29. Viola has 19 species in the one and 43 in the other. Panicum has 25 species in Gray’s volume, but the body of Britton’s work contains 52, and the appendix brings the number up to 62 without exhausting the list of species described from the Eastern States by the gentleman who collaborated with the author in this part of the work. The difficult genus ster was a favorite study of Dr. Gray's and he catalogues 54 species and 11 varieties. The new volume, how- . ever, has 78 species and 59 varieties! ‘There is a suspicion among many excellent botanists that a large number are mere forms, too insignificant to be worth distinguishing by a scientife name. The reprehensible practice of making an ‘‘English” name for each plant that lacked one, has been followed, with the result that we are treated to such combinations as Circinate White Water Crow- foot, Short-haired Reed-Grass, Farwell’s cat’s-foot, Judge Daly's sunflower, Addison Brown's thorn, Stewardson Brown’s Indian turnip, besides other names certainly neither English nor common, as Schedonnardus, Aphanostrephus, Amphiachrysis, and Tetra- gonotheca. Notwithstanding the defects here indicated, rather because of them, the book will be invaluable to botanists generally. It should be in every library that has a ‘“‘Gray’s Manual” upon its shelves. The price is $2.25. van _ aoe CENTS ONLY THINE A WORK ON THE BIRDS OF NORTH AMERICA CONTAINING OVER 3,000 PAGES AND NEARLY AS MANY r FINE ILLUSTRATIONS fn MANY OF THEM ie, FROM LIFE. gtCEs. WAY MONTHLY. ~\ gi ONLY 50 ; AYEAR. ~7 cergge Interesting Articles by Prominent Writers SAMPLE COPY FREE. Mention BOTANIST AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY, WORCESTER, MASS. STA. A. NATIVE FLOWER FACTS UR native flowers and ferns are faith- fully portrayed in colorsin Meehans’ Monthly. Each issue contains a magni- ficent and expensive colored plate which is botanically accurate. A descriptive chapter accompanies this, giving in a readable way full information, history curious lore pertaining to the plant. Be- sides, our magazine is crowded with other useful horticultural information,—all sub- jects being treated in a masterly manner. CONCISE, USEFUL, INTERESTING AND INSTRUCTIVE, it is very well worth $2.00 for a year, $1.00 for six months, or 20 cents for a sam- ple copy. No free copies—too expensive. A Book telling all about Trees is sent for 6 cents in postage THOMAS MEEHAN & SONS, Publishers, GERMANTOWN, PHILA., PA. ERNEST SETON-THOMPSON writes on ‘The Recognition Marks of Birds ” and illustrates 18 species of Hawks and Owls in December BiRD-LORE and Frank M. Chapman begins a serial entitled ‘‘How to Name the Birds,” to contain pictures of over 50 species. This number will be sent free to all new subscribers for 1902 and asa CHRISTMAS PRESENT we will mail it, with a properly inscribed Christmas card, giving your name as donor, to any address in time to be received on Christmas ONE DOLLAR A YEAR THE MACMILLAN COMPANY Day. MULBERRY AND CRESCENT STS., * HARRISBURG, PA, AN EXPERT OPINION. Turning away from the flying and creeping things of the earth and from the snap-shot methods necessary to portray their life, a feeling of coolness and repose comes to us from between the leaves of “Our Ferns in their Haunts.” Last week, driving on the Parkman road, near the head of Lake George, we watered the horse at a barrel, fed from a spring on the hillside by the hol- lowed-out half of a tree-trunk. We climbed the slope above it and gathered quantities of ferns, differing, while the horse jogged on again, as to whether this or the florist’s delicate pet was the real “maidenhair.’’ There was no untechnical book in our col- lection, nor did we know of any in which we could “look it up.” The next mail brought this book. It opened to a pen-and-ink ¢ sketch of what looked like our drinking place. Further on in the book we found—was it the very clump from which our ferns had been taken? It might have been, for the surroundings seemed identical.. Our questions were answered, as were several others, and we were given a digestible morsel of science with a salad of maidenhair folk-lore, all served up in the best of descriptive English. ‘The make up of the book is admirable. The colored plates, wash drawings and pen-and-ink sketches are artistic and at the same time accurate in detail, and the bits of quoted verse and folk-lore are as attractive as the illustrations.—Literary Col- 4 lector. OUR FERNS IN THEIR HAUNTS A GUIDE TO ALL OUR NATIVE SPECIES BY WILLARD N. CLUTE 8 vo,, CLoTH, 332 pages and 215 illustrations. Price, $2.15 NET. Sent postpaid for $2.35 Address, WILLARD N. CLUTE & CO., Binghamton, N. Y. m=, ff ¥ ; yes -. r . ‘ FPO gen Cale RE OR eek eg Oty Sn Se Sing cae (Sethe ‘ é “ =P " ~~ « —_ fe ty ey ee Oe ~ 3 : a Stee a co ~ J» > he ‘ - 7 ay” . - < . . ‘ . a ‘ a ie * ; ~~ ‘ re od . " oe . ee eer . - on, eee ~ = a . . ae du. > 1 ce or A ~ ~_ a aN oe on "a. +4 ata re PT Pm “4 it ORES 5 RUS AUR ‘ : ‘ wey AY ya >} RAY me iN