HoiiTICULTUitAL DIVISION. 333 



statements that the Caper Spurge is objectionable to moles, but the 

 fact that the notion is old and widespread raises a presumption 

 that the plant may possess such attributes. The statement occurs 

 only in American works, so far as I know. It would be interesting to 

 know the experiences of those who have grown the plant for a number 

 of years, for the subject is worth investigation. But we cannot too 

 strongly deprecate the practice of introducing plants to the public 

 without giving purchasers definite knowledge of their history and 

 nature, and without having detailed proof that the plants possess the 

 virtues which are claimed for them. It would have been better in the 

 present example, no doubt, to have submitted the plant to a botanist 

 before introducing it, in order that its proper name and history might 

 have been determined; and if the public is at all inclined to buy a mole- 

 plant it would have been persuaded much more by the long tradition 

 of its virtues than by any consequential statement of its value. 



The Caper Spurge is apparently biennial, although Boi'^sier, a cele- 

 brated monographer of the euphorbias, calls it annual. The plant is 

 very unlike in its early and flowering stages. Until it begins to branch 

 and flower, the leaves are long linear-lanceolate, opposite, and arranged 

 in four perfect rows down the thick, smooth stem. As this stage of 

 the plant is rarely illustrated or described, I have introduced here a 

 photograph of our Mole-plant as it appeared eight months after its 

 receipt from Mr. Wilson. It was placed horizontally and an end view 

 was taken in order to show the serial arrangement of leaves. The plant 

 is exceedingly curious and interesting, and we shall grow it in our 

 greenhouses as an ornamental subject. Few plants have a more novel 

 or striking appearance. In its second or flowering stage, the leaves are 

 ovate and shorter. Mr. Wilson writes me that he knew this plant in 

 old gardens more than fifty years ago, where it had a reputation for 

 expelling moles, but he lost sight of it until a short time since, when 

 he again met with the plant. It was then propagated and introduced 

 to the public. 



ORCHARD COVERS. 



A year ago * a report was made upon the use of the European vetch 

 ( Vicia sativa) as a plant for growing in orchards, — to afford a cover 

 for the soil in late summer, fall and winter, and to provide fertilizer* 

 when plowed under, the following spring. Observations have been 



*The Vetch or Tare as an Orchard Plant, Bull. 59, Cornell Exp. Sta. 354. 



