THE AMERICAN BOTANIST. 121 



er real students. It may almost be set down as an axiom 

 that the maker of the most "new species" knows least about 

 the plants in the field. One may even become so unacquaint- 

 ed with living plants as to be unable to recognize them. "Let 

 us dr}' it and then see how it looks" said New England's most 

 distinguished botanist when asked for the name of a plant 

 that was not familiar to him. 



Sassafras. — I do not think I have seen it recorded that 

 one seldom finds a sassafras tree 8 or 9 inches in diameter, of 

 which tlie top has not been broken out by some high wind. 

 The break is. of course, an inducement to rot and the broken 

 top often shows rotten wood, but the original cause of the 

 break appears to be due to inherent brittleness in the wood and 

 not to weakening through rotting. — Elzcyji U^allcr, Morris- 

 toz^n, X. J. 



Growth of Perennials. — Even from its seedling stage, 

 the ordinary perennial is a plant of \try deliberate ways. The 

 annuals are the active individuals. They must be up and doing 

 or cold, drouth, insects, other species or the gardener may for- 

 ever prevent their accomplishing their life work. But the 

 perennials, able to withstand the cold of winter, are in no 

 hurry, apparently counting a firm root-hold in the soil and 

 a small amount of stored food accomplishments enough for 

 one growing season. One can almost tell whether a seedling 

 is an annual or perennial by the rapidity with which it grows. 

 The purslane {Portidaca olcracea) is one of the latest of 

 weeds to appear each season, but no one ever saw the "pusley" 

 crop sliort for lack of growth. 



