1912] Fernald and Wiegand,— Juncus balticus 35 
feet from the ground, a height of about 45 feet and a spread of 50 feet. 
The Reservoir tree has a girth of 57 inches, a height of about 40 feet 
and a spread of 45 feet. The Milton tree has a girth of 51 inches, a 
height of about 40 feet and a spread of 41 feet. 
These trees are apparently near enough together in size to belong 
to the same planting; but to account for the Milton tree being where 
it is, has puzzled many who recognized it as a stranger. It stands in 
an open pasture about two feet from the street wall and was exposed 
to public view in October, 1900, after severe roadside cutting and 
removal of Viburnum and other shrubs by the Superintendent of 
streets and his men. No trees have been planted along this wall for 
at least thirty-three years to my certain knowledge, and I believe the 
field has been an open pasture for many years longer. 
To explain its presence on this Massachusetts highway the story has 
gained credence that it sprang from an acorn thrown into the field by 
a soldier just returned from the South. Readville camping ground 
is a half mile away and regiments returning from the war were often 
quartered here for weeks before discharge. The probable age and 
general appearance of the tree and its surroundings lend color to this 
invented story. No one imagines that the tree was planted by the 
hand of man. It bears fruit pretty regularly, but no one has seen any 
seedlings in the vicinity. 
'The very persistent foliage makes it a conspicuous tree in the late 
fall and winter: it is green till almost Christmas and its last leaves 
have not fallen by the first of March. It is certainly “a distinct and 
desirable ornament" of the country roadside and as it is owned by a 
lover of trees we may hope it will be carefully guarded for another 
century. 
READVILLE, MASSACHUSETTS. 
A NEW VARIETY OF JUNCUS BALTICUS.— Juncus balticus Willd., 
var. melanogenus, n. var., caulibus tenuibus teretibus 1-3 dm. altis 
circa 1 mm. diametro; cataphyllis basilariis flavo-stramineis lucidis; 
inflorescentia compactis circa 1 cm. diametro; bractea 6-11 em. 
longa; sepalis 4.5-5 mm. longis subaristatis castaneis quam petalas 
paullo longioribus; petalis similibus albo-marginatis; antheris fila- 
mentis duplo vel triplo longioribus; capsulis ovoideis longe mu- 
cronatis 3-locularibus atratis vel badiis perianthiis vix equantibus. 
