26 MISSOURI BOTANICAL GARDEN BULLETIN 
to the weight lifted by the roots of old trees. The large 
superficial roots which creep over the ground of the forests 
were not always situated in this position. The underground 
roots have gradually come to the surface, lifting with them 
entire trees which often weigh several tons. 
The elevation of the trunk may be explained in a simple 
manner. The first embryonic root growing down vertically 
into the ground dies off, or its growth is so retarded as to 
force lateral roots to develop which spread out horizontally 
in a whorl around the trunk. Similar to the trunk, the 
roots form successive layers of wood, gradually thickening 
with age. The pressure exerted by these roots is lateral, 
compressing the soil below while raising and bursting open 
that above. In this manner the thickening root gradually 
emerges to the surface, raising with it the entire trunk. 
Plate 6, fig. 2, shows the action of a root which has penetrated 
a fissure in a rock formation, producing the appearance of 
the tree growing out of solid stone. 
NOTES 
Dr. Ned Dearborn, of the Bureau of Biological Survey, 
U. S. Department of Agriculture, visited the Garden recently. 
Dr. J. M. Greenman, Curator of the Herbarium, was made 
chairman of the taxonomic section of the Botanical Society 
of America, at its recent meeting at Baltimore. 
On February 7, Dr. B. M. Duggar, Physiologist to the 
Garden, presented a paper before the Society of Sigma Xi 
on “Investigations of ‘Ultramicroscopie’ Organisms Inducing 
Plant Diseases.” 
Corporal C. L. Moody, who has been at Camp Devens, 
Mass., for the past year, has received his discharge from the 
Army and has returned to the Garden to fill his former posi- 
tion of foreman of outdoor gardens. 
Recent visitors to the Garden include Professor Leva B. 
Walker, of the University of Nebraska, January 26; Dr. 
George M. Reed, Cereal Pathologist, Bureau of Plant In- 
vente! U.S. Department of Agriculture; Dr. Charles Thom, 
Mycologist, Bureau of Animal Industry; and Mr. B. J. 
Howard, Bureau of Chemistry, February 18. 
A number of interesting plants are now in bloom in the 
various conservatories at the Garden. In the ericaceous 
house the false holly (Chorizema ilicifolium), with its showy 
masses of orange-red pea-shaped flowers has opened the 
