THE AMERICAN BOTANIST 129 



the pubescent maple-shaped leaves from which the plant took 

 its original name. 



In consideration of the fact that the plant stood in im- 

 minent danger of extinction by the plow, it seemed an act of 

 pietv rather than of vandalism to take it away to safer 

 Cjuarters, and it now is in my own gromids where it is grow- 

 ing vigorously. The flowers are rather small and of no great 

 beauty, but the rarity of the plant gives it a certain charm 

 that does not attach to commoner plants. We secured an 

 abundance of seeds and hope by another year t(j have done 

 something toward modifying its rarity. 



If any western reader who has access to plants of Sphaer- 

 alcea acerifolia will be kind enough to send me seeds of it, I 

 shall be glad to grow the two forms side by side and later 

 report any difference that may be discovered between them. 



UNDER WHICH CODE? 



By J. C. Nelsox 



NOW that the whirlwind, the fire and the earthcjuake of Dr. 

 Britton's recent philippic against the supporters of the 

 International Code have passed away, and the few wretched 

 survivors have timorouslv ventured forth to behold the ruin 

 which has been wrought, the time for the still, small voice ap- 

 pears to have arrived. Dr. Britton's well-known preference 

 of the club to the rapier as a weapon of offense makes us 

 wonder if he did not long ago discover the profound wisdom 

 of Sir Toby's exhortation : "And as thou drawest, swear hor- 

 rible; for it comes to pass oft that a terrible oath, v/ith a swag- 

 gering accent sharply twanged off, gives manhood more ap- 

 probation than ever proof itself would have earned him." But 



