16 THE AMERICAN BOTANIST, 



Saffron. — The saffron of commerce is simply the 

 pollen of Crocus sativus commonly called the saffron 

 crocus. It is found chiefly in Kurdistan, and is largeh'- 

 cultivated as an economic plant in Kashmir. — Indian 

 Gardening- and Planting-. 



Influence of Forests on Rainfall.— Most people 

 now hold the opinion that trees have no effect upon the 

 rainfall but the Editor of Indian Planting and Gardening- 

 thinks otherwise and he cites in support of his opinion the 

 fact that some twent^'-five \'ears ago, the Multan District 

 of the Punjab was practicalh^ a rainless region, but trees 

 were planted and now that they have grown up the dis- 

 trict receives a fair share of rainfall. The fact should not 

 be lost sight of that rainfall is caused b^^ a surplus of 

 moisture in the air. Trees, as we know, transpire much 

 moisture. It would seem that this contribution of moist- 

 ure by forests might bring about conditions resulting in 

 rainfall which would not occur otherwise. 



Perfume of Hepatica. — I was interested onedaj' this 

 spring on bringing home a bunch of hepatica blossoms 

 from the woods and setting them in a vase in the house, 

 to notice that they exhaled a perfume very like the well- 

 known spicy odor of trailing arbutus. I had never before 

 known the hepatica to have an odor, and should be glad 

 to know the experience of other American Botanist 

 readers on this point.— C. F.Saunders. [This subject was 

 discussed some 3'ears ago in the Ornithologist and Botan- 

 ist and several observers made note of the fact that the 

 hepaticas in their localities are fragrant. It is certain, 

 however, that a very large majority of these blossoms are 

 not fragrant. Why, then, should they be fragrant in some 

 localities and not in others ? Several possible reasons 

 suggest themselves. It may be due to temperature or 

 humidity. In a moist air a faint perfume would be more 

 noticable. Nectar and fragrance usually go together. In 

 any situation or weather favorable to the production of 

 nectar the fragrance would doubtless be more pronounced. 

 Further observations are much to be desired. — Ed.] 



