52 THE AMERICAN BOTANIST. 



Ivy Poisoning. — Mr. O. M. Oleson notes that a cheap 

 and ready remedy for poisoning by Rhus toxicodendron is to 

 wash tlie hands or exposed parts with hot water and soap. The 

 poison is supposed to be due to a non-volatile oil, toxicodendrol 

 and the hot water and soap will remove the poisonous effect if 

 applied the same day. Washing in cold water only makes it 

 worse. 



Sphagum and Peat. — The mosses of the genus Sphag- 

 num are commonly called peat mosses from the supposition 

 that they have been mainly concerned in the formation of peat 

 bogs. Recent investigations, however, indicate that these 

 mosses have less to do with forming peat than geologists have 

 asserted. One of the sedges, Carcx filiforviis, is now said to 

 be the principal former of the sedge mat which ultimately be- 

 comes the basis for a layer of peat. It has also been recently 

 reported that some of the salt marshes along the Atlantic 

 coast are underlaid by a stratum of peat formed from fresh- 

 water plants. This throws an interesting light on the eleva- 

 tion and subsidence of our coasts. 



Plants that Seldom Fruit. — Among the plants that 

 seldom fruit, at least here in New England, is the Epigaea 

 repens, our familiar May-flower or trailing arbutus. At one 

 time I recall Dr. Asa Gray's advertising for it- I, myself, 

 have seen it but once and that high up on the Northwest slope 

 of Mt. Wachusett. The plants in that locality were especially 

 vigorous as evinced by the large leaves and dense, wide- 

 spreading patches. It is well-known that tlie flowers are di- 

 morphic so there is an evident provision to have them fructify 

 at least occasionally.— Dr. IV. W. Bailey, Providence, R. I. 

 [It may be questioned whether the trailing arbutus is really 

 one of the plants that seldom fruit, if undisturbed by man. 

 In the vicinity of cities and towns it is so closely gathered 

 that it does not have much of an opportunity to sliow what 



