THE AMERICAN BOTANIST. 97 



'sustained against the British view is that it is behind the 

 times. It would seem, therefore, that the need for an 

 international congress to conside the subject is great and 

 it is to be hoped that the approaching meeting may result 

 in definite good to the science. Dr. A. Zahlbruckner, 

 Burgring 7, Vienna 1, Austria is the Secretary and circu- 

 lars of the meeting may be obtained from him. 



Commercial Use of Deer Tongue.— A Florida paper 

 Tiotes that during the past season a single dealer has 

 shipped upwards of 25,000 pounds of deer tongue to New 

 York where it is used to mix with tobacco for its pleasant 

 aroma. The deer tongue referred to, is also called vanilla 

 and is the Liatris odoratissima of botanists. It grows 

 wild in many parts of Florida and may be had for the 

 .gathering. Following the Civil War large quantities of 

 this plant were shipped north but the demand for it final- 

 ly ceased, and has but lately revived. Among other wild 

 products of Florida that are now finding a market are 

 palmetto berries, prickly ash and the seed of Jerusalem 

 Oak {Chenopodium botrys.) 



The Chillicothe. — Once more the chillicothe is con- 

 fronting us with its great problem, or so it seems to us, of 

 plant intelligence sufficiently great to tell the time of year. 

 There has been no rain for many months, and even if there 

 had been, it would not penetrate the hard earth to the 

 depth of three to six feet, to where the chillicothe keeps its 

 root. Yet every year at the proper time, the great roots, 

 which often weigh two hundred poimds, send up each their 

 -dozens ot vines which grow with almost visible speed for 

 a few weeks, mature the spring "cucumbers" and wither, 

 the root then beginning to prepare for next season. Quite 

 apart from the great mystery of plant life, the fact of 

 growth is the particular mystery of how this huge, shape- 

 less root buried so deeply can elaborate from its own sub- 

 stance the beautiful wonderful life of spreading vines of 

 flowers and a perfect fruit and most incomprehensible of 

 all, how it knows just when the right time of year comes. 

 — New Century Path. 



