THE AMERICAN BOTANIST 71 



Growing Plants in Closkd Jars. — During' the past 

 summer. I had my attention called to a case of growing 

 flowering- plants indoors without any care being taken of 

 them. Plants of partridge berry {Mitchclla repcns) were 

 collected in west central Alichigan in August. 1921. brought 

 to Chicago and placed in a glass af|uarium jar about eight 

 inches in diameter, along with some of the soil from the place 

 where the j)lants were oI)tained. A moderate amount of 

 water was ])ul in the j;ir and the top put on over a rui)ber 

 ring, sealing llie jar ver}- iiearly if not (|uite air tight. The 

 jar was Icept in an apartment without at any time being ex- 

 posed to the direct sun. During the winter it was kept above 

 a radiator, which was usually turned off. and during the sum- 

 mer it was allowed to remain close to the house wall on a 

 heavily shaded porch. 



When seen by me the plants were very thrifty and look- 

 ed very close to normal, although it had had neither sun nor 

 water for somewhat over a year. This particular specimen 

 had not flowered, but I was told that in previous years 

 specimens similarlv treated had flowered and fruited under 

 these conditions. As the previous specimens had been thrown 

 out late in spring, it is not possible to state how long such a 

 plant might be maintained under such conditions. This 

 might prove a useful hint for someone to have green things 

 f:rowing in iiis house even under apparently most unfavor- 

 able circumstances. The partridge berry seems to be very 

 suitable, possibly because it naturally grows in deep woods, 

 receiving direct sun only early in the spring or in the fall 

 when the trees have lost their leaves. — Vrauk C. Gates. { In 

 the Pern Bulletin, vol. 20, page 75 is an account of a fern 

 that had lived for more than eight years in a tightly sealed 

 bottle five bv three inches in ^ize. Possiblv ferns are mc^re 



