Wanted. — Short notes of interest to the general botanist 

 are always in demand for this department. Our readers are 

 invited to make this the place of publication for their shorter 

 botanical items. The magazine is issued as soon as possible 

 after the 15th of February, May, August and November. 



Fragrant Coreopsis. — Comparatively few of the compo- 

 sites are fragrant. Though many possess abundant nectar it 

 seems to be a family characteristic to depend upon color, rather 

 than upon odor, for the attraction of insects. A good many 

 species, however, have a not unpleasant smell, such as is found 

 in the garden sunflower, but in a common species of coreopsis 

 (C. fripteris) this rises into a distinct and agreeable perfume 

 like that of the wild crab. The odor does not appear to exist 

 in every clump of plants, but the fact that it exists in some is 

 sufficiently note-worthy. No doubt a race of plants in w-hich 

 the perfume is strongly accentuated could be bred up from such 

 specimens, and since the fragrance of wild crab is universally 

 appreciated, such plants would probably find a ready sale. 



Yellow-Stemmed Dogwood. — Several species of dogwood 

 (C omits) are extensively planted in parks and other public 

 grounds, for the cheerful effect of their deep red stems in 

 winter. One of these is a native species, Cornus stolonifera, 

 and others are found in the Old World, notably C. sangiiinea 

 and C. mas. The color of the stems is due to a substance 

 variously known as anthocyan, and carotin and it is this same 

 substance that gives the red orange or yellow color to many 

 fruits. This being so, it is not surprising to find in the cata- 

 logues of dealers, many yellow-barked forms which bear the 



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