THE AMERICAN BOTANIST. 15 



Camphor for Germinating Seeds.— According to the 

 Journal of Agriculture camphor has a remarkable effect in 

 hastening the germination of seeds. They are simply 

 soaked in a pint of water to which has been added a piece 

 of camphor the size of a hickory nut. This process is said 

 to be especially effective in the case of thick shelled seeds 

 which are notoriously hard to germinate. Camphor- 

 water is also recommended for stimulating the growth of 

 cuttings. They are said to strike root much more quickly 

 if the cut ends are first dipped in the liquid. Readers with 

 a turn for experiment would do well to try this. Seeds or 

 cutlings without camphor should also be planted at the 

 same time for comparison. 



Propagation of Yellow Adder's Tongue.— In pre- 

 vious w^oodland rambles, about this time of the year, I 

 had frequently noticed a w^iite growth resembhng a 

 potato sprout, springing from the moist rich loam, and 

 forming a pretty little arch, then re-entering the ground 

 one inch or two from the spot w^hence it had sprouted. It 

 was delicate and it easily broke aw^a}' from its under- 

 ground parts as I found by several unsuccessful attempts 

 to get the entire plant, but, to-daj^ June 8th, I secured 

 several specimens showing the conn, the leaf and the 

 sprouts. Though the color had c[uite faded from the leaf, 

 I recognized the plant as the "yellow adder's tongue" 

 (Erythronium Americanum) which takes this method of 

 propagating itself. Two, sometimes three, offshoots 

 spring from the base of the corm ; then, instead of groping 

 their w^ay underground to a new location, they come to 

 the surface and travel "overland" acquiring a few inches 

 of growth in the light of day before plunging finally into 

 the moist earth. The end of the sprout which works its 

 way into the earth is slighth^ swollen. When roots have 

 sprung from this end in sufficient number to procure 

 nourishment for the young plant, the parts which connect 

 it with the parent plant wither away. Henceforth the 

 plant lives as a separate individual. — H. Dupret, Montreal, 

 Canada. 



