172 
landing. The seeds were probably brought in ashes from Canada, 
as there were several heaps there at that time, and it came up around 
where ashes had been laid. Since writing the above I find Mr. 
Young has reported it from Northville ; from his description I sup- 
pose it is the same locality. 
While collecting Woodwardias recently, I found the dried swamp 
full of Z/odes Virginica, Nutt. The humble-bees were at work on 
the flowers in such numbers, as to compel me to give up the idea of 
getting any. Woodwardia Virginica, Smith, had mature fruit. The 
fruit of IV. angustifolia, Smith, was still very young. 
I have been much interested in watching the humming birds in 
my garden. There are about two hundred spikes of Gladiolus in 
flower; there are always one or more birds on these, and once I 
counted six, all with the dark throat. Ihave never seen any with 
the red throat. They are quite tame, flying all around and alighting 
within three feet of me. I have never seen them visit any other 
flowers, except fuchias, and Gilia coronopifolia, Pers. The gladiolus 
must be very rich in honey, though it is not fragrant. Is honey pro- 
duced as long as the flower lasts? I should judge so from the fact 
that the birds are about them constantly. 
The beach-plum bushes (Prunus maritima, Wang.), have suffered 
severely from the ravages of 4 slug, similar to the rose slug, but 
nearly black in color and about half an inch in length. They have 
completely skeletonized the leaves, and, in most cases, taken every 
leaf. For nearly a half mile on the beach bank, the bushes look 
from a distance as if a fire had passed over them. The bushes are 
just putting out new leaves. Isolated specimens and those on the 
upland do not seem to be attacked. It is to be hoped they will not 
stay from year to year, as the plums are much used by the residents 
along the shores. 
A friend told me that if the peduncle of the Hoya carnosa, or 
Wax-plant, was not cut off, after the individual flowers withered and 
dropped, a new cluster of flowers would grow from the same place. 
Having a plant flowering this summer I tried the experiment, and 
now have the second cluster on one peduncle. Three others appear 
as the first did, so I have hopes of eight clusters instead of four. 
One day last summer, while on the Sound shore, I saw a fine 
illustration of the manner in which plants are distributed. The wind 
was north and blowing very hard. Very often a seed (of some 
thistle I supposed) would blow past me. I tried to get some, but 
did not succeed. We are opposite New Haven, and the Sound is 
about twenty miles wide. I have often heard that the Canada 
thistle was introduced on Long Island in this way. 
August 15, 1877. Evtnu S. MILLer. 
Terms—One Dollar per annum beginning with the Fanuary number, For the Botanical 
Directory 30 cents. Supplement to D. rectory, 10 cents. Vols. 1-V., with index, and 
photograph of Dr. Torrey, $3.75. Copies of Constitution and B -Laws of the Club, 25 
cents. Address, Wm. H. LeGcert, 54, East 81st Street, New York. Mon Orders on — 
“Station K, P.O., N.Y. All subscriptions or orders filled only on receipt of the money. 
The Club meets regularly the last Tuesday of the month in the Herbarium, Columbi C. 
at 7:30 P.M. Botanists are invited to attend. Dr, Tuurper, the Preatdeut of ete 
may be found at 245 Broadway. eee 
