THE AMERICAN BOTANIST 143 



CoMMOx Names from Surnames. — Prof. J. C. Nelson 

 makes a further addition to the Hst of common names derived 

 from surnames which was pubHshed in the August issue. 

 This is "Johnson grass" {Holciis halapensis) which has some 

 value as a forage plant and is grown in the South though 

 it oftens proves a nuisance because of its running rootstocks 

 which makes it difficult to eradicate it from a piece of ground 

 when once it has become established. The grass was named 

 after a certain \\ . Johnson of Alabama who seems to have 

 introduced it into his State between 1840 and 1845. Little 

 seems to be known about this particular Johnson. Possibly 

 he may have come to shun publicity and to regard his namesake 

 with aversion since it threatened him with notoriety instead of 

 fame. 



Fruits of the Flowerixg Ouixce. — It is probably 

 unnecessary to observe that all quinces produce flowers though 

 that scarlet-flowered shrub of early spring often bears the 

 name given it in our title. It is more properly the Japan 

 quince {Cydonia Japonica). It is probably called "flowering 

 quince" to distinguish it from the garden species which though 

 a beautiful sight when covered with its pink rose-like 

 flowers, is seldom grown for ornament. The flowering 

 quince has still another claim to its title from the fact that 

 it seldom bears fruit. Many people imagine that it never 

 does so. As proof that it may fruit on occasion we have 

 a fine specimen more than eight inches in circumference, and 

 therefore approximating the fruit of the garden quince in 

 size, which was sent by Mrs. O. A. Runyon, Cattellsville, 

 Kentucky. Mrs. Runyon writes that last spring a shrub of 

 Cydonia Japonica in her grounds was thickly set with fruit 

 but that a late frost caused all but four to drop from the 

 plant. Those that remained matured October 12th. The 



