Abies Dotiglasii and its Precocity. 179 



with what success it were premature to say. The majority of the 

 female cones are, from the cold winds of April and May, and probably 

 also the imperfect action of the pollen on the stigmas, imperfectly 

 developed. 



It may not be out of place here to state a peculiarity in the case of 

 pine and fir inflorescences which may or may not have occurred to 

 some of your readers. In the case of the genus Finns, a ra^o, flower, or 

 rather inflorescence, is simply a leafl modified to serve the purposes of 

 reproduction. In the case of the genera Ahies, Picea, Cupressus, &c., 

 the male inflorescences are hranchcs modified to serve the same 

 purposes. Hence we find that plants of the latter genera flower much 

 earlier in the season than those of the genus Pinus, seeing that branch 

 buds are formed in the autumn of the preceding year. It may also be 

 stated that female cones of Abies Bouglasii take an ascending direction 

 on their first appearance, but after impregnation has taken place they 

 then assume a pendulous position. The purpose served by this peculiarity 

 is easily understood ; but will some one of your scientific readers kindly 

 inform the less favoured among us hoio this change of position is 

 effected ? 



—^^A 



