BOTANICAL GAZETTE, 



Readily distinguished by its very slender habit, irregular bipinnate ramification and 

 by the thicker capillary divisions of the leaves. 



2\ niolUssima, TAYL.=r. Tomentella! T. lanata, (Hook.) Nees==7'. tomentosa (fide 

 specimens from New Zealand, in Herb. Sulliv. ex-Herb. Lehm.) T. Tomentella, Hepa- 

 ticu' Cubensis Wrightiana=2\ tomentosa! 



A FEW NOTES ON THE CHANGES OBSERVED IN VEGETATION. — I cannot Say how ex- 

 tensive these changes have been, but the observations made extend over several square 

 miles of surface. Of course one has to depend on the testimony of others for some of his 

 facts in such a matter as this. In the town of Windsor, Conn., there are acres of land 

 covered with White Birch, in place of a heavy growth of Pitch Pine that occupied the 

 land when the place was first settled. Some fields are covered with White and Red Oak, 

 with some Chestnut and Black Oak, in place of the Pine first found there. Others still 

 are now covered with Wliite Birch and scrub pines, that once were covered with a heavy 

 growth of White and Black Oaks, witli some Red Oak and Chestnut. The hazelnut 

 bushes have made tlieir appearance in many places— taken possession would perhaps be 

 better, and White Pines are not unfrequent. The new growth referred to came in after 

 the soil had been cultivated for quite a length of time. In fact it requires but a few 

 years for a field to put ou a good covering of timber, if left to itself. One field I have in 

 my mind now, that has quite a heavy "second growth," — pines, oaks, chestnut, &c. — that 

 less than forty years ago was planted in corn. The owner told me he had raised good 

 cro]is of corn and rye on tliat same field. 



There must have l;een some source whence such changed vegetation was derived. 

 Can any one tell from what source the seeds of an entirely dissimilar vegetation are de- 

 rived? Soil brouglit up from almost any depth and kept from contact with the air, has 

 been known to produce plants unlike any ever before seen in the localit}'. At least, 

 what seems to be well authenticated instances of the kind are reported. In some parts 

 of England where "Parks" have been cleared, an entirely new kmd oftiml)er springs up. 

 Whence the seeds V One theory is that the seeds of former vegetation luive preserved in 

 the soil, their vitality being such tliat when shut away from the influencre of the air tiiey 

 retain it a long lime. The wheat found wrapped up with Egyptian mummies is given as 

 an example. Another theory is the germs are floating in the atmosphere, and when they 

 find a favorable spot the}^ take root ; but the seeds of the forest trees do not float very 

 much. I will repeat my question. Can any one tell whence these seeds? — N. Coleman, 

 Berlin, Gonn. 



Recent PaBLiCATiONS. — Amiriavi Journal of ScLsnce awl Arts, November. — "I« the 

 Existence of Grovvtli-rings in tlie Early Exogenous Plants proof of Alternating Seasons?" 

 This is an extract from a paper read before tlie N. Y. Academy of Sciiences, by Chas. B- 

 AVarring, Ph. D. Various observations are mentioned and the facts establislied by them 

 are for Ululated in the following propositions: 



1. Some e.xogens form rings at intervals much less than a year. 



2. Others require intervals of several years. 

 8. Some form no rings. 



4. The presence or absence of rings in exogens occurs in all clin^atos. 



5. Large and well defined rijigs are found under conditions in wliicli there is abso- 

 lutely no appreciable variation of temperature or moisture throughout tiie yetir. 



6. An exogen naturally forms rings, will continue to form tiiem although the climate 

 become uniform through the year. 



Tiie existence, therefore, of these markings in the ancient flora gives no information 

 as to tiie existence at that time of seasons, and so tar as they are coiu'cnied we are left 

 free to adopt any conclusion as to the incliniitioii of the earth's axis wliu h may appear to 

 us most reasonable. 



