MICHIGAN ACADEMY OF SCIENCE. 125 



Port Huron it is usually at least five days later. From these dates up to 

 the fifteenth of June there is continuous blooming of thorns, ending with the 

 Tomentosse. All of my trees, numbered and reposrted upon, about 160 of 

 them, are on both banks of St. Clair river and running north along the Lake 

 Huron shore and along Black river in St. Clair county, a strip about 40 

 miles long and 10 miles wide. Observations during the flowering season 

 must be very carefully made for the reasons suggested by Prof. Sargent in 

 his paper. Mistakes made at this time cause much trouble. ^Ye must have 

 an accurate account of number of stamens and color of anthers. Examine 

 and count them and note color in bud, again just before the petals spread 

 and again early in full bloom. In some of these stages the anthers may ap- 

 pear to be white, when in fact they are pink in early bloom. This was found 

 to be the case in some of the Crus-galli group. The color of anthers often 

 fades in early bloom. Be sure not to guess about it. It is far better to wait 

 another year. Select for pressing as large flowering specimens as possible 

 up to ten inches and more in length. As in case of fruit specimens, the twigs 

 and spines, if any, will press down ver}- nicely. If reasonable care is taken 

 it is not difficult to prepare very good specimens. More pains must be 

 taken with the Molles than the others. The young leaves, tender stems, 

 and flowers of the Molles appear to be succulent and are liable to turn black. 

 The fruit is large and often juicy. A little experience will, however, over- 

 come these difficulties. 



The recent increase of species in some genera appears rather strange to 

 some of us amateurs. The species in Panicum, Viola and Antennaria have 

 jumped from a moderate to a large number. But the genus Crataegus has cer- 

 tainly outdone them all. In Gray's Manual, sixth edition, ten native species 

 and two varieties are described for the Northern United States. In Chap- 

 man's third edition of the Flora of the Southern United States, six species 

 and one variety are added. Britton in his Manual describes thirty native 

 species. Prof. C. S. Sargent in his Manual of the Trees of Xorth America 

 has described and illustrated one hundred and thirty-two species. Prof. 

 Sargent estimates that in anj^ locality alone there are about fifty species, 

 twenty of Avhich are new. The genus has been variously estimated to con- 

 tain from 2C0 to 4C0 species in North America. It has therefore arisen 

 from a very modest number of species to be far more numerous than in 

 Carex, Solidago, Aster, or Astragalus. Many of us wonder what former 

 botanists, species makers, were doing to let so many species escape their at- 

 tention. The explnaation, so far as I have heard any, is that former bot- 

 anists overlooked many essential things among the Crataegus forms, that 

 viewing the various forms as they now exist, and proceeding on the same 

 principles used in carving out species in other genera, the recent multiplica- 

 tion of species is proper, necessary, and scientific. Prof. Sargent is certainly 

 proceeding with the greatest caution. So far as possible the seed of every 

 proposed species has been and is being planted in the grounds of the Har- 

 vard Arboretum, and will be carefully watched to see whether in each case 

 the new trees will prove true to type. Prof. Sargent tells me that so far as 

 he has been able to test the matter they have proven true. In any event 

 the question of Crataegus species must be worked out in our state. I for one 

 am willing to help do it, and hope other botanists will do what they can. 

 We now have a fair beginning. 



Port Huron, Mich. 



