108 THE AMERICAN BOTANIST 



is a familiar fungus to sight at least, and will be remembered 

 as a thin growth pinkish in color, to be seen frequently on dead 

 and decaying substances. It appears to be very common on the 

 puff-ball mentioned and has also been found on decaying 

 apples. 



The Fertile Spike of Ophioglossum. — After a study 

 of the vascular S3^stem of the sporophyte of the Opioglossaceae 

 M. A. Chrysler supports the view that the fertile spike is to be 

 regarded as consisting of two fused pinnae. This is true of the 

 species of Botrychium in which the fertile spike has a double 

 vascular supply. The allied genus Aneimia is remarkable for 

 always having two fertile spikes on each frond, both spring- 

 ing from the base of the frond and very evidently transform- 

 ed pinnae. In view of this the double vascular supply to the 

 Botrychium spike is quite according to nature. The Ophio- 

 glossaceae have always been regarded as a very ancient and 

 simple family of ferns, but if the new view is correct, they may 

 now be considered rather highly specialized. — Fern Bulletin. 



New Method of Forcing Plants. — Most plants in 

 temperate regions where the cold of winter is severe enough 

 to put an end to plant growth, have learned to take a rest in 

 winter and this habit has become so thoroughly fixed that even 

 when dug up and kept in a greenhouse, such plants refuse to 

 grow until they have finished their natural dormant period. 

 By taking the plants up early in autumn and giving them a 

 good freezing it has been found that they begin at once to 

 grow. Evidently the cold has something to do with the ac- 

 celeration of the resting process. A few years ago, it was dis- 

 covered that by exposing plants to the fumes of ether or chloro- 

 form for a short time, they would grow exactly as they would 

 if frozen or if allowed to finish their natural period of dor- 

 mancy. Recently a GeiTnan, Prof. Molisch, has written a 

 pamphlet in which he claims that the plants can be forced as 



