244 
considered bordered. As this definition is sometimes difficult of 
application, he overcomes this by placing some families with 
small and imperfectly developed borders in the list with those 
containing only simple pores, 
In this way it happens that the tables given by this author do 
not always agree with those of the present paper. For example, 
Betula and Alnus he gives among the bordered pored, although ex- 
plaining that the border is here generally smaller than the “spalt.” 
Also the pores of the libriform of Fraxinus he says possess 
“deutliche” borders, although smaller than the “spalt.” Several 
other instances occur where the different standards taken to de- 
cide what a border is, cause a difference in the classification. 
This indicates, however, no real difference in opinion, as the 
definition is simply arbitrary in both cases, and in instances like 
Betula and Alnus, the test of the angle between the tube and the 
border-opening was extremely difficult of application. Certain 
species of A/nus were examined where, had the decision rested 
on single cases alone, these must have been included in bor- 
dered-pored libriform. : 
It is hardly necessary to add in conclusion that the probability 
of the hypothesis assumed in the foregoing pages would be great- 
ly strengthened by experiments proving that water, when forced 
by artificial means though a piece of wood consisting of bordered- 
pored libriform, passed through more readily than through wood 
containing only simple-pored libriform. Several experiments of 
this kind were tried at different times in the laboratory of Prof. 
Schwendener of Berlin, and also in that of Prof. Cramer at Ziirich, 
the results of which were partially successful. It is hoped that 
these results may be verified and the experiments extended so 
far as to render them of sufficient interest for future publication. 
Time of Fruiting of Buxbaumia aphylla. 
In December of 1884 I noticed two patches of this interest- 
ing moss growing near Hamden Swamp, in the vicinity of New 
Haven, Conn. 
My attention was first attracted by the bleached empty cap- 
sules of the preceding year’s growth. One patch was situated 
near a decayed stump, the other at the foot of an oak. The soil 
