58 BOTANICAL GAZETTE. 



then there is iu my present situation some satisfaction in goino; to the trees and srather- 

 ing the ripe oranges wlienever inclined to do so; and some pleasure also in watching 

 the growtli and development of leaves, fruit and flowers of strange tropical plants, all 

 our own. Observing the vigor and rapidity of pushing forth of the banana's huge 

 liower-stalk and the unfolding of its fruit, all so nicely arranged, no man at all mintlful 

 of the operations of nature can reniaiu iudlfl'erent, cold and unnu)ved. This enormous 

 activity cannot but gently remind him of a mighty power or i)()wers working simul- 

 taneously within millions of cells — not a hap-hazard clash of atom against atom, which 

 would end in inextricable confusion, but a working and weaving in unison, harmoni- 

 ously and steadily, the crude material into objects of exquisite beaut\' and regularity; 

 the plan adopted for each siiecies vigorously followed up and adhered to in places thou- 

 sands of miles apart, subject, however, now and then, to gradual moililications. 



M} new home is situated so as to bring me a little nearer town, is in a higher and 

 drier localit3', at the foot and in front of a prominent hill (iahed "Belmont" on which a 

 century ago the governors of the ishmd loved to dwell in stately mansions, sliowing 

 now nothing but the low remnants of a few ruined walls. This mounlain when cleared 

 of its high trees offers, no doubt, most splendid views on three sides. Towards the 

 west it takes in the town of Port of Spain antl its suburbs and a great extent of the 

 Gulf of Paria; towards the north and east it exhibits the northern mountain ranges 

 running out westward into a bold narrow strip, as well as the high promontories of tho 

 Venezuelan coast in the dim ilistauce. Of late this once beautiful mountain has been 

 altogether neglected, and suttereil to run into a kind of wikl l)ushv park; only on mie 

 side there is an open spot bare of trees, forming a kind of glade, and that is (>])posite to 

 where I live, extending downwards to wnthin ten yards of my front fence. I tind this 

 climate much more humid than that of Venezuela, and it takes all of a botanical col- 

 lector's ingenuity to guard his dried specimens against the detrimental etfecis of dam|i- 

 ness combined with high temperature. Even now in February, while trying to distri- 

 bute my Ferns into sets, I sometimes have to gather them up in a hurry and lay them 

 aside when a rain comes down without warning. I tind that during December and 

 January the night temperatures are considerable lower and the mid-day temperatures 

 higher than during the summer mouths, descending in January as low as (54 deg. F., 

 and rising as high as 97 deg. F. * * * . — A. Fendler. 



On the Distribution of Certain Plants in Missouri; By G. C. Bkoadhead. 

 (Concluded from page 53). — Eupatoriam perfolidtum, L. Boneset. Has only been 

 found in the eastern part of Missouri, as far west as Sullivan county, but not in south- 

 west Missouri. 



Silphium terebinfJunaceuiii, L. This plant abounds on prairies in Fayette, Sanga- 

 mon, Macon, Christian and Montgomery counties, Illinois; is found in southeast Mis- 

 souri and rarely in north Missouri; observed in Kails, iu Maries, common in Cole, and 

 found southwardly, but not in Western Missouri. 



Coreopis gnoidiflora. Common in Bates and Vernon, but not fouuil in north Mis- 

 souri. 



Pyrrhopappuii grdiuUflorus, Nutt. In Bates, Vernon and eastern Missouri, but not in 

 North or Northwestern Missouri. 



ConocUnium cmlestinuniy DC. Abounds iu southeast Missouri, is also found in 

 Cole and Bates counties and southward l}^ Is a very pretty iilant. 



Vernoriin Arkaiudna, DC, I have found in Jasper county, but not North. 

 Troximon ciispidatiun, Fur-^h. In Jackson and Cass and probably southwardly. 

 Apogon humilis. Ell. In Cass and Bates. 

 Boltonia latisquavia. I have only found in western and southeast Missouri. 



