FLOW OF SAP IN WINTER. 91 



winter crack open to the width of from a quarter to half an inch, but 

 close up again in summer. The wood of this tree has large, open 

 vessels. He had observed a remarkable difference between the 

 abele and the white maple during winter. While the buds of the 

 latter swell in warm weather and contract on the return of cold, 

 those of the former continue to grow larger and larger, indicating 

 continuous root action. We know that the catkins of the hazel 

 frequently appear in November. These facts indicate that some- 

 thing is obtained from the ground even during the most severe 

 weather. Mr. Hovey did not know why root action might not go 

 on even when the ground was frozen. It had been thought that 

 rhododendrons were injured by excessive evaporation during very 

 dV}' weather in March, accompanied by high winds when the 

 ground was frozen, so that the roots were unable to make good 

 the loss of moisture sustained b}^ the top. But this is merely sup- 

 position and has not been shown by careful experiment to be true. 

 There can be little doubt that there is a movement of sap through- 

 out the entire year. 



The Chairman suggested the subject of Noxious Insects as im- 

 portant and interesting for discussion at a future meeting. 



BUSINESS MEETING. 



Saturday, March 4, 1876. 



An adjourned meeting of the Society was holden at 11 o'clock. 

 President Parkman in the chair. 



This being the time ordered for the election of Recording Sec- 

 retary, the Recording Secretary announced that the notice had 

 been duly given, and on motion the polls were opened at five min- 

 utes past eleven, to remain open thirty minutes. 



The Executive Committee reported the acceptance of the resig- 

 nation of William Gray, Jr. as Chairman of the Committee on 

 Gardens. On motion C. M. Hovey, William Gray, Jr., and John 

 G. Barker were chosen a conamittee to nominate a candidate to fill 

 the vacanc}^ in the Garden Committee. 



