78 THE AMERICAN BOTANIST 



botanists of the world will render the work unsatisfactory lo 

 many users. It may be a patriotic sentiment that inclines cer- 

 tain students to go in for an American Code but to the reviewer 

 the attempt of a few Americans to bend the opinions of the rest 

 of the world to their ways, seems very much like the tail trying 

 to wag the dog. 



Odor of Amelanchier. — Although various correspond- 

 ents report that the common shadbush or June-berry 

 (Amelanchier) is fragrant, Miss S. F. Sanborn notes that 

 there is a form of this plant in her part of the world that is 

 decidedly ill-scented, and that this fact is known to others. 

 It is well within the bounds of possibility for the plant to be 

 fragrant in one place and scentless or with an unpleasant 

 odor in others. Those who have carefully tested the black 

 snakeroot (Cimicifuga) are aware that it has two distinct 

 emanations one of which is pleasing and the other quite the 

 contrary. It is hoped that the ill-scented Amelanchier will be 

 positively identified this year. There is always the possibility 

 that the choke-berry (Aronia) which is ill-scented may be 

 mistaken for it, though no botanist is likely to confuse the two. 



Florets of Black-Eyed Susan. — The yellow rays of 

 the Black-eyed Susans (Rudbeckia hirta) seemed as fresh as 

 ever at the end of July. Why were the Silver-spot butterflies 

 forsaking these bright flowers? Looking closer, I perceived 

 the purple-brown disk flowers had almost all bloomed and 

 withered ; these plain florets are the ones that interest butter- 

 flies, because they contain the nectar. The blossoms begin to 

 bloom around the base of the cone-shaped center and gradually 

 open upwards. Into the fresh florets the bees and butterflies 

 stick their tongues. Once, I brought a flower into my window. 

 The next day a circle of stamens was prominent on the disk 

 for the anthers were overflowing with yellow pollen. In the 

 field this is not commonly in evidence, for the insects brush it 

 off and carry it away soon after it appears. — Miss Nell 

 McMurray, Clearfield, Pa. 



