68 BOTANICAL GAZETTE, 



spreadingbranchesof the Live Oak, give it a novel and grotesque appearance to the 

 Northern traveler, and all admire it, and cull tufts as mementos of the sunny South. 

 It is much used in decorating halls, dining and sitting rooms. It contributes, also, as 

 an article of commerce in the manufactured state. It is shipped in bales to Northern 

 upholsterers, who use it as a good substitute for hair. In preparing for market, the 

 dead moss- only is used. The colored people convey it in bundles their usual way, or on 

 carts, to the gin, where they dispose of it for a small consideration. Thus received, it is 

 placed in water until it is thoroughly saturated, after which it is thrown on large stacks, 

 and is allowed to pass through a process of sweating. It is then separated, dried and 

 ginned. In the process of ginning, the strong woody fibre in the stem becomes denuded 

 of its leafy and bark-like covering. It is this fibre which constitutes the article of com- 

 merce. It is a glossy brown color, and quite strong. Some, by special desire of pur- 

 chasers, is dyed black, so as to more nearly resemble hair. A superior article is that 

 which has further been subjected to a process of picking, by which all foreign matter is 

 eliminated. — Dr. A. P. Garber, Columbia, Penn. 



Some Forking Spikes. — I was much interested in the remarks on Plnntago in 

 your September issue Tiie Plaiitago major, with branching leafy spikes, has occurred 

 here for sevei-al years. It first attracted my attention in 1863; then for several seasons I 

 did not collect a specimen. For the past year or two it has been increasingly abundant, 

 sometimes with every part of the plant covered with a dense pubescence, again, perfect- 

 ly smooth and shining. 



A few years ago I collected along the Schuylkill River, near Philadelphia, the 

 BotrycMum F^■r5f^Vw■c^iw, Swartz, with the fertile frond branched somewhat in a similar 

 manner, two, three, or even four branches. On examining the plants to ascertain, if 

 possible, the cause, I found in every case that there had been an injury in the early stage 

 of the plant, by which the fertile segment had been broken oft", and from that point the 

 branches started. Of course all of them were without the direct terminal spikes, which 

 is not the casein the Phmtiujo. Several other species of ferns are found here with occa- 

 sionally forking or branciiing fronds. 



A short time ago I collected the SetariagUiuca, Beauv., with forked spike, but in no 

 other way differing from the ordinary form of the species. — Isaac C. Mabtindale, 

 Camden, N. J. 



Proceedings op the Davenport Academy of Natural Sciences, Vol. I, 

 1867-1876.— This is a thick, well-printed pamphlet of 284 pages, containing 36 plates, 

 principally lithographic, and ten pages devoted to their explanation. In the preface is 

 given the origin and history of the Academy, and the circumstances under which tliis 

 first volume of proceedings is issued. Organized on the 15th of December, 1867, it pass- 

 ed through several stages of advance and decline, but within the past two or tliree years 

 it has begun to enjoy a very prosperous existence. In 1875 it was thought that sufficient 

 material had been collected to warrant the Academy in commencing the publication of 

 its proceedings, and the present volume is the result. It is the intention, if possible 

 to issue an additional number of proceedings as often as once a year. The price of the 

 volume is $2.50. 



Calandrinia Leana,, Porter. — Dr. Gray reports this species, described in the Octo- 

 ber Bulletin, as discovered also, later in the numth of xVugust, in Siskiyou county, 

 California, by the Rev. E. L. Greene. 



All communications should he addressed to 



J. M. Coulter, Hanover, Ind. 



M. S. Coulter, Logansvort, Irtd. 

 Term^s :— Subscription $1. 00 a year. Single Number 10 cents. 



