Pe EOP A ys 
RODE ab 
_ Fig. 1, represents pollen grains of Pinus rigida, taken from the flowers. 
Fig. 2, various pollen grains from the powder of Pictou. Fig. 8, pol- 
len found with fossil infusoria at West Point. That 
these are all pollen grains of various species of pine, 
no one familiar with the peculiar pollen of Pinus — 
can doubt. The analysis given by Mr. Blake, is 
not at all incompatible with this statement. Phos- — 
phate of lime is a well known ingredient of pollen 
of pine. Dr. Dana found 3 per cent. of it in Pinus 
abies. The presence of nitrogen in pollen, is, as 
you remark, well known. 
With regard to the pollen from Troy, I believe it to be all et of 
various trees, but am not able to state positively what plants furnished 
it. I think no part of it can be sporules of Lycopodium, as our species 
of that genus do not flower until July or August ; whereas the powder 
in question fell in May. The species too of Lycopodium are scarcely 
abundant enough, I should think, to furnish such large amounts of the 
Fig. 3. 
‘powder. I send you some sketches of the pollen grains of which the 
Troy powder is composed. The larger particles, (Fig. 4,) a, a, 4, a, 
nae Fig. 4. 
compose the greater portion of the powder; I presume there would be 
no difficulty in identifying them with the pollen of some tree growing 
near Troy and flowering in May. The smaller particles 5, b, b, in 
their triangular shape, and the protrusion of pollen tubes from the an- 
_ gles, resemble the pollen of various plants of the natural family Ona- 
‘grarie. The last figures are drawn to the same scale as those prece- 
ding, and were all sketched with the camera lucida eye-piece, anda 
moderate power of my Chevalier’s microscope. You will notice that 
there is no pollen of pine in the Troy powder. Believe me, very sin- 
cerely, your friend, J. W. Batney. 
=. Brief. Serietures on Art. XV, Vol. xxxiv, p. 169, of this Jour- 
with 
—Looking over the thirty fourth volume of the Journal, I met 
Sveepiindiiaing article on the Dry Rot. At variance with the pre- 
