SHORT ARTICLES. 195 



phase, taken with that of the production of sovernl series of 

 whorls of cones, and the added fact, that these cones require 

 two years to perfect seed, account for an undeserved classifi- 

 cation of PiiiHS insignis as a long-closed-cone species ? 



Pinns mitricata occasionally, though rarely, produces 

 three or four whorls of cones in a year, but as one may count 

 from five to fifty whorls on a Single stem, and not one cone 

 open, the tree seems to deserve its place in the long-closed- 

 cone group. The cones of this species often grow in crowded, 

 double whorls, so close together that the bark cannot be seen 

 between them. In such cases, the cones become embedded 

 in the later growth of wood and practically girdle the tree 

 which breaks off at that place with the first pressure. 



On the bank of a sandstone- ridge, in soil too poor to be 

 occupied by the surrounding Adenostomas, Manzanitas, and 

 chinquapins, I recently found a miniature forest of 

 Cnpressus macrocarpa. The trees, which numbered hun- 

 dreds, were mature, bearing clusters of ripe fruit. They 

 were rather crowded and strict in habit^and barely twelve 

 inches high. As the trees were found just at evening and rain 

 was falling, I was forced to leave extended observation to 

 a future date, but poverty of soil would seem to be suf- 

 ficient cause for the condition of the trees : — J. B. Hickman. 



Lemna gibba in Southern California: — This plant has 

 either been overlooked by collectors in Southern California, 

 or it is rapidly increasing. It seems to be now quite com- 

 mon in the coast counties of the region. It is abundant at 

 Pasadena, at Compton, near San Pedro, in Santa Monica 

 Canon, and near San Juan. In a ditch at Compton I found 

 it fruiting abundantly on September 2nd. — -A. J- Mc- 

 Clatchie. 



NEW BOOKS. 



The Bamboo-Garden, by A. B. Freeman-Mitford, and 

 Round the Year, by Prof. Miall, both published by Mac- 

 millan, we hope to notice at greater length in a future issue. 



