222 Rhodora [Octobbb 



The last collection appears to have been in 1S79 from the ballast- 

 grounds at Philadelphia. It is not possible to say whether the plants 

 colleeted in the later years of this period were descendants of the 

 first eolonists, hut it seems unlikely. Comparatively few of these 

 ballast plants persisted, and eolleetions of a speeies over a lengthy 

 period frequently seem to represent repeated eases of colonization. 

 There were periods of renewed interest in the ballast-grounds during 

 more recent years, particularly in the late 90's, but the speeies was 

 not found at this time. 



Mr. Roper's collection near Bishops Bridge show that it occurred 

 there as early as 191.'?. Because of my interest expressed in the 

 plant he visited the station again in 1918 and reported it in some 

 abundance, fruiting copiously, and evidently increasing. When, on 

 October 5 of the past year, my long deferred visit was made, I was 

 amply repaid by the sight of many hundreds of vigorous plants. 



The railroad at this spot extends across a low depression and has 

 been laid upon a stonc-and-eindcr fill. On the long, sloping railroad 

 bank the croton has found a favorable habitat, with numerous other 

 weeds that like loose cinder railroad-ballast. For more than a hun- 

 dred feet along this slope the croton is the most conspicuous, if not 

 the dominant species. At the foot of the slope, among the weeds 

 of ranker growth and the native vegetation encroaching from the 

 low ground, the plants were tall and slender, some approaching two 

 feet in height; while at the crest of the bank those growing in the 

 dry, sun-baked cinders, having had little growth-competition, were 

 stout little "bushes" about a foot tall. At the time of my visit 

 the somewhat shaded plants were still fresh and green; those in the 

 open were in greater maturity and made really very handsome foliage- 

 plants with their drooping, primary leaves turning a rich salmon 

 color. All were fruiting profusely and apparently prepared to con- 

 tinue flowering and fruiting indefinitely. Probably only killing 

 frosts terminate its growing season in this latitude. The railroad 

 company's scythe that makes periodical raids upon the vegetation 

 along the tracks seems not to have discouraged the plant. Those 

 individuals that were cut down appeared to have suffered only a 

 judicious pruning, resultant in a greater branching and increased 

 fruiting. 



The presence of considerable paper and rubbish along the railroad 

 bank suggests that car-sweepings may be dropped here. This is 



