SUBTERRANEAN GROWTHS. 151 



Many collectors prefer labels like Nos. i and 2 with only the 

 headlines printed. This is a matter of individual preference, but the 

 tendency seems to be toward the styles here given. Labels should be 

 printed on white or cream-colored paper that is sufficiently sized to 

 take the ink for the rest of the label without blurring. It is well to 

 avoid thick paper, as it is more difficult to paste smoothly to the sheets. 

 Labels should always be fastened to the lower right-hand corner of 

 the sheet, and for this purpose paste is better than mucilage. Some 

 collectors give their labels a sort of individuality by printing some 

 character on it before the regular label is printed. Thus the label with 

 the plants collected in Yucatan by Dr. Millspaugh bears a green Y 

 across which the usual label is printed. If this under-tint is not too 

 strong, such labels are of value in enabling one to distinguish at a 

 glance, when consulting an herbarium, whether the specimen is one 

 for which he is searching or not. 



SUBTERRANEAN GROWTHS. 

 By E. J. Hill. 



IN collecting and examining plants some of their important and most 

 interesting lessons may be missed by not attending with sufficient 

 care to their subterranean growth. This is a matter compara- 

 tively easy with most of the annuals and many perennials, but 

 some of the latter have such an extensive or complicated system be- 

 neath the surface that it becomes laborious and time-consuming to 

 trace it. But these hidden parts frequently reveal unexpected and 

 valuable information about their habits -vyhich pays for all the pains 

 taken in uncovering them. Some examples will make this plain. 

 Wishing to learn more of the subterranean character of the Bristly 

 Sarsaparilla {Aralia hispida), work was begun with what seemed from 

 its size to be the original stem, though three others were found in fruit 

 belonging to the same system. This stem was S'^™- high; the largest 

 of the remaining fruiting stems was 6. s'i™- high; the other two 5"^™- 

 each. Smaller stems were present, as well as buds and shoots which 

 had not reached the light. They were joined by a system of roots 

 running 5-1 o^m. beneath the surface in the sand. I call them roots, 

 for they seem to answer to such with adventitious buds better than 

 to rootstocks, as nodes were not apparent and the frequent rootlets 

 issued from them irregularly, not being confined to the proximity of 

 shoots and buds. Taking the cardinal points as a guide for orienting 

 and mentally reconstructing this system, one root ran westerly 20^^™- 

 with three stems, one in fruit; another went east 15.5*^™-; another 



