H. BOTANY AND HORTICULTURE. 367 



a great number of seeds, which are small, black, and very- 

 brilliant, and of a lenticular form. It is thought that the a-p- 

 j)lication of this plant as a manure may have a great advan- 

 tage over guano, especially for vine-dressing, on account of 

 the gfeat quantity of potash it contains, this being an ele- 

 ment of primary importance for the formation of bitartrate 

 of potassa. It is a question whether the jilant derives its ni- 

 tric acid directly from the soil in which it grows, or whether 

 it absorbs its elements from the air, and combines them under 

 the influence of the bases of potash and lime derived from 

 the soil. It is supposed, however, that the greater part of 

 the nitrogen is drawn from the air in a free and uncombined 

 condition. 3 J3, February/ 27, 1873, 391. 



FOREST GROWTH IX THE WABASH VALLEY. 



In a description of the vegetation of the bottom lands of 

 the Lower Wabash, Mr. Robert Ridgway gives numerous 

 particulars respecting the dimensions and habit of the preva- 

 lent forest trees. These number nearl}'- 100 species, of which 

 about 70 exceed 40 feet in heiglit, about 50 exceed 70 feet, 

 and nearly 30 are known to reach or exceed the height of 100 

 feet. The ordinary height reached by the forest mass is about 

 130 feet; and above this general level occasional trees rise 

 to an altitude of 200 feet, or perhaps more. 



The largest of these trees is the sycamore {Platanus occi- 

 ilentalls)^ attaining sometimes a diameter of 20 feet and a 

 height of 200, with the lowest branches 90 or 100 feet above 

 the ground. The tulip-tree {Liriodeiidron tuliinferian) is the 

 second in size, being found 180 feet high, and 37 feet in cir- 

 cumference. A stick from this tree is mentioned as measur- 

 ing 74 feet in length, being straight and symmetrical, and ta- 

 pering from 23 to 18 feet in circumference. The tallest cotton- 

 woods {Po2)ulus monilifera) are equally high. The pecan 

 {Carya olivceformis) reaches 175 feet in height, with a clean, 

 straio^ht trunk of 60 to 90 feet. Amono: the oaks the most 

 stately and symmetrical is the "Spanish odi^'''' {Quercus cocci- 

 nea, var.), frequently 150 feet high, and 15 to 20 feet around ; 

 while the most massive is the burr oak [Q. macrocarpci)^ of 

 equal height and rather larger diameter. The white ash 

 follows, nearly 150 feet high; the black walnut, 125 feet 

 high, and over 20 feet in circumference; and the white oak, 



