16 NEW YORK CENTRAL PARK COLLECTION. [May 



slow growth, being only of 24 inches diameter; it is named 

 Ficea Engelmanni from its discoverer, Dr. Engelmann, being known 

 also as Engelmann's spruce ; its locality is from British Columbia 

 to Arizona, and it forms extensive forests in Colorado. 



Among rare S23ecimens in view for this collection, but which 

 remains to be secured as circumstances permit, is the Larix Lyellii 

 or Western larch, growing in the Cascade and Galton ranges of 

 Oregon at 6000 or 7000 feet elevation; the acquisition of trees so 

 situated is evidently attended by difficulties ; even the extensive 

 census collection is destitute of this species. 



Woods of handsome appearance include the arbutus, holapensis, 

 sweet bay {Per sea carolinensis), Alaska cedar {Ghama cyparis 

 nutkansas), and the beautifully-figured maple burl from Missouri. 

 A species most remarkable for durable quality is the catalpa, of 

 which some of the wood buried in the ground for seventy-five years 

 is brought out in a perfectly sound condition. Among other 

 interesting specimens are the cocoanut tree from Key West, and the 

 finely odorous nutmeg tree from California. 



An extremely curious species is the Washington palm {}Vashin(j- 

 toniana filijjera) from Southern California, of which the rings are 

 nearly detached, forming layers of fibrous, bark-like substance lying 

 loosely one within another to the heart ; the top of this tree severed 

 from the trunk is also among the specimens, with its immense 

 spreading leaves dried and yellow. 



From Texas comes another extraordinary tree formation resem- 

 bling a fluted column, and known as the Ccrcus gigantus. Its 

 vertical, singularly-curved parts are easily separable, being without 

 attachment of any heart at the centre. The Douglas spruce exhibits 

 an equally peculiar appearance, but from extrinsic cause its bark 

 is thickly perforated with holes of the average size of nuts, the 

 cavities representing an economical system pursued by woodpeckers ; 

 after forming these holes, the birds therein deposit acorns, to remain 

 until some future day when required for food. 



One of the most interesting curiosities is that of the Gkditschia 

 iriacanthus or honey locust, from Missouri, of which the body is 

 covered with thorn clusters, shooting outward in all directions from 

 their centres of growth. The base of this thorn formation is in the 

 bark, without any source in the wood beneath or connection with 

 it. These knots or crowns of thorns are therefore easily detached, 

 and it was necessary on this account for the tree to be transported 

 from the West suspended from the ceiling of the car. — Forest and 

 Stream. 



