Editorial Notes. 743 



Sussex, where these trees are probably more extensively cultivated 

 than in any other part of the south of England. The specimens shown 

 were the red and white varieties of the common Birch {Betula aiha), 

 the red and white Hornbeam {Carpinus hetidus), and the red and white 

 Hazel {Conjlas accllana), all varieties well known to the woodmen of 

 Sussex, but so far as known quite overlooked hitherto by botanists and 

 the authors of works upon our forest trees. In the Weald of Sussex 

 the white variety of the Hornbeam is known by the name of '' Beech," 

 and the red variety as the " Husbeech," the true beech being distiu- 

 guished by the name of the " Timber Beech." The different varieties 

 are easily distinguished by the initiated by their difference in habit, 

 general appearance of foliage, colour of bark, &c., accompanied by 

 differences in the colour and texture of the wood, which for practical 

 purposes indicate important variations as to the degree of elasticity, 

 brittleness, toughness, and endurance of the timber, and its usefulness 

 for the various purposes for which it is applicable. The red varieties 

 are generally of a harder grain and more unbending than the white, 

 which are more pliable and tougher, and hence the woodmen select the 

 sort best adapted for the purpose, — red hornbeam, for instance, never 

 being used for "withes," — because of its very brittle nature. 



At the same meeting a diagram was shown by Dr. Masters, of the 

 leading shoot of a plant of Abies Norclmanniana, which showed the 

 line of revolution performed by it during the period of twelve hours 

 as observed in July last. The movement was noted from hour to hour, 

 the shoot sweeping round and keeping its point towards the east from 

 9 a.m. till 3 p.m., from which time till 7 p.m. it was directed vertically, 

 at 8 p.m. the tip of the shoot pointed to the north, and at 9 p.m. to the 

 north-west. Such phenomena are probably of more common occurrence 

 amongst trees than has previously been suspected. 



In our August number we had the pleasure of announcing the visit to 

 Europe of the Hon. B. G. Northrop, of the Board of Education of the 

 State of Connecticut, for the purpose of inspecting and collecting 

 information concerning the modes of teaching and working followed in 

 the various schools of rural industry on the Continent, especially in 

 reference to Schools of Forestry and Forest Management, with a view 

 to the results of his investigations and observations being laid before 

 the people of the State, so as to instruct them in the best methods of 

 reclamation of waste land, and the propagation and extensive planting 

 of trees, especially for shade, shelter, use, and ornament, in the towns 

 aud villages of the State, and upon the bare treeless tracts of cultivated 

 lands, from which the grand primeval forest has been clean swept, 



