DROUTH ENDURANCE 245 



and several of his horses. During a trip across the state early in Sep- 

 tember it was noted that many fires had been kindled in this manner, 

 so that the railroad right-of-way, and sometimes for considerable dis- 

 tances on either side, the grass or stubble had been destroyed by fire for 

 long distances. Groves of planted tress or rows of trees along the 

 railroad were frequently damaged or completely killed. This indirect 

 effect of the drouth seemed to be unusually common in many parts of the 

 drouth-stricken territory. 



As cooler and moister weather succeeded the trying drouth, numerous 

 cases of renewed activity on the part of the vegetation were evidenced. 

 The most pronounced late season reaction of this sort was observed in 

 the re-greening of lawns, pastures, and roadsides which had appeared as 

 areas of stubble for so many weeks. The fresh green of early October 

 is most welcome evidence of the fact that vegetation was not entirely 

 burned out under the protracted dessication of the long summer weeks. 



Examples of the autumnal flowering of trees have been noted in 

 greater than usual number. That this phenomenon is not induced in all 

 cases by the succession of moist weather after a period of drouth (as is 

 commonly supposed) is shown in the case of a cherry tree on the 

 campus of the University of Nebraska. This cherry tree, Prunus padus, 

 came out with its second production of flowers early in September before 

 the drouth had been "broken." A striking additional peculiarity of the 

 serotinal flowers of this species was seen in the presence of many 

 abnormalities and malformations. Phyllody of various flower parts was 

 especially common. Many of the racemes were in fact transformed into 

 veritable museums of teratological specimens. 



A PRELIMINARY PAPER ON DROUTH ENDURANCE.* 

 By Charles Bessey. 



When I was asked by Professor Scott to prepare a paper on the 

 "Morphological and Physiological Characteristics that Enable Trees to 

 Withstand Drouth" I realized that he had asked a question speciflcally 

 that has not yet been answered. We know a good deal as to this matter 

 about plants in general, but very little as to its application to trees, and 

 still less as to its application to particular species of trees. So I must 

 here and now emphasize the fact that I am not able to write such a 

 paper as I was invited to prepare. That must be left for some one who 

 has a much more complete knowledge of the subject. 



However, it may help to place the subject before the members of this 

 congress if I analyze the problem, and attempt to show where and how 

 the investigations must be made that are necessary to a solution of the 

 many problems connected with the subject. Accordingly this is only a 

 preliminary paper, and no attempt is made to reach or even to suggest 

 final results. Whatever value it may have for this congress will be due 



*Read before the Dry Farming Congress, November, 1913. 



