1882.] 



ANn HORTICULTURIST. 



345 



gpnns, and named Washiiigtonia by Dr. Kellogg. 

 Lindley hIso siippoped it t(i be distinct, and either 

 ignorant of or ignoring Kellogg, named the sup- 

 posed new genus Wellingtonia. But neither of 

 these determinations stood the test of botanical 

 rules, and the plant was finally referred to a 

 genus already established, namely, Sequoia. 

 Dr. Kellogg now claims, at least, priority f ir his 

 common name, Washington cedar. Unfortu- 

 nately, popular names to be popular must be 

 adopted by the people, and the people in their 

 adoptions know no rule of priority, or any rule 

 but popular fancy. However, it is but just to 

 Dr. Kellogg, one of the most eminent and earnest 

 workers in the early field of California botany, 

 that he should have all due credit for his work. 

 This is what he has to say about its early name, 

 and his connection with the plant's discovery: 



"As historic truth demands it, it is but just to 

 say. I, myself, took Mr. Lobb to the California | 

 Academy of Sciences, and showed him the first j 

 specimens he ever saw of this marvelous, now 

 world renowned, Washington cedar, which was 

 so named by me before he ever saw the tree. 

 The tact is well known to the old charter mem- 

 bers of tlie Academy, several of whom are still 

 living. It is, therefore, the earliest among com- 

 mon names, and claims precedence, by ail cour- 

 tesy, in point of time, as also in appropriateness 

 of honor. Our relations to its earliest identifica- 

 tion we leave to the historian of the future." 



Origin of the Treeless Pr.^iries. — In an 

 address before the Academy of Natural Sciences, 

 of PliiU\del|ihia, a couple of years ago, Mr. Thos 

 Meehan pointed out that there Wi\s no known 

 agent but fire which could prevent a border line 

 of forests from gradually spreading over the 

 grassy prairies; that only for the annual Indian 

 fires the great prairies of the West would long 

 ages ago have been impenetrable forests. This 

 view seems to be coming into general favor. In 

 a recent issue of the " Proceedings of the Na- 

 tional Mu.seum," Mr. Robert Ridgeway says : 



"That the numerous small prairies which 

 were common in the Wabash Basin at the time 

 of its first settlement have become transformed 

 into woodland, and that, owing to this gradual 

 change of prairie to forest, the actual area of 

 forest in Wabash and the adjoining counties in 

 Illinois is greater than fifty years ago. Exten- 

 sive woods ot oak and hickory more than eighty 

 feet high, and with trunks nearly two feet 

 through, are now growing on what was open 

 prairie within the memory of some of the pres- 

 ent owners of the land. 'This is interesting as 

 a slight indication of the solution of the mystery 

 whicli invulves the origin of the prairies; while 

 the rapidity with which these new woods have 

 sprung up shows that the reproduction of our 



failinsr forests can he accomplished in a shorter 

 time than is generally supposed, if proper con- 

 sideration and attention can only be given to 

 the subject.' " 



•-•-• 



SCRAPS AND QUERIES. 



Truffles. — A correspondent refers to state- 

 ments made in variou'* "local histories" of the 

 truffle being found in the United States, and asks 

 whether we know of such instances. In reply, 

 we can only say, that we have often met with 

 such statements, but they always seem to be 

 founded on mere ''hear-say" evidence, which, 

 without other confirmation, is not satisfactory. 

 On the whole, it is safest to believe that the 

 truffle has not been found in the United States. 



Sheep and Kalmia. — A Texas sheep raiser 

 says: " I would be willing to waste a sheep on 

 you, 'pizen ' it with kalmia leaves and then ship 

 it to you ; but then I can't be certain that you 

 won't declare that, though it's dead and the 

 leaves in its stomach, you are ' not convinced' 

 that I did not feed it on strychnia or some other 

 vile thing. Well, it's a mystery, and if I had the 

 same reason for thinking as you do, and did not 

 love the reasons I have for my opinion, I should 

 change it." 



[It seems necessary to repeat that we have 

 never said sheep are not sometimes killed by 

 kalmia and other leaves. Our point is that the 

 kalmia is not a poisonous plant, or chemists 

 would find the poison in it. — Ed G. M ] 



Use for Yucca Leaves.— "H." referring proba- 

 bly to Texas, says : '* I can add another use for 

 yucca leaves. The early settlers, the buflalo 

 hunters and Indians in Northern Texas use it for 

 hanging up their meat to dry ; the sharp point 

 obviating the use of a knife. The hunters salt 

 the choicest parts of the buffalo in a hole in the 

 ground which they line with hides, then run a 

 yucca leaf through and hang over the camp fire 

 to smoke." 



[It might be worth while to grow yucca around 

 fishing stations for stringing fish. Looking on at 

 a boatload of weak fish and croakers recently, 

 it occurred to the writer that there was a great 

 deal of time lost in punching the little gills with 

 a pointed stick in order to string them into 

 dozens and half-dozens. A yucca leaf would 

 serve at once for needle and string. But perhaps 

 fishermen have no great need to save time. — 

 Ed. G. M.l 



