Groivth-Pcriodicity of the Potato Tuber. 355 



serpent as a Totem of the god of rain. This is matter of specu- 

 lation, but would not seem to be altogether unreasonable, when 

 we take into consideration the mythology of all other barbarous 

 tribes. 



The people of this silent city were peaceful and depended 

 largely upon agricultural pursuits for a livelihood ; selecting their 

 location for a village with a view to natural barriers, placing 

 their sentinels on the commanding places on the top of bluffs, 

 and building a fort for a place of last resort, when forced to 

 retreat by the enemy. The great quantity of grinding stones and 

 stone hammers found upon the ground would all tend to show 

 that they were not a war-like people. The villages being located 

 on high ground so far from water, it was necessary to have some 

 means of carrying water, which was done in earthen vessels. 

 These vessels were of so frail a nature, and were so frequently 

 broken, that it is quite probable, the majority of the women of the 

 tribe were well up in the ceramaic art. 



Fragments of potter}^ are found everywhere, but no whole 

 vessels ; the fragments show that the clay was mixed with coarse 

 sand or pounded shells and dried in the sun. Some pieces exhibit 

 cord markings; other pieces were ornamented with a sharp stick 

 '>r bone, and is not unlike Indian pottery generally. 



Much more could be said about this Indian village, a minute 

 description of the various excavations having been omitted. It is 

 hoped, that as years roll by, enough light will be shed upon the 

 past, to give us a clearer conception of the origin of these as well 

 as other tribes of American Indians. 



THE GROWTH-PERIODICITY OF THE POTATO TUBER. 



Conivay MacMillan. 



While a vast amount of research has been expended upon the 

 physiology of tubers, bulbs, corms and fleshy roots, it is not clear 

 that any extended observations have ever been made upon the 

 method of growth of such an organ as the potato tuber. It is a 

 well known fact that the growth in length of upright stems and 

 various aerial organs is not regular, but exhibits a marked daily 

 periodicity, the time of greatest average growth being not far 

 from three o'clock in the morning, and most stems show a clearly 

 marked diurnal period, unless this period is modified or obliterated 



