48 WORCESTER COUNTY HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. [1899. 



Polytrichum, a fibro-vascular bundle first makes its appearance 

 in the middle of the stem. The faint beginning which fore- 

 shadows the o;iant trunk of the forest tree. Also in some 

 capsules, as in OrUiofrichum, quite well developed stomata, or 

 breathing pores, first make their appearance. 



Let rae try now to give you the place in the ladder of plant 

 life which mosses and lichens hold, and somewhat of their life 

 history. 



[This was done by the aid of colored sheets.] 



This, in bare outline, is the life of a moss or lichen ; but we 

 all know that the life history of any plant means much more in 

 the economy of nature and our [esthetic enjoyment than any 

 such description will indicate. 



As we go about out of doors, we find these plants almost 

 everywhere. A moist climate is especially favorable to their 

 growth, so wonderful stories are told of the beauty of mosses 

 in our Northwest Coast. 



Moisture and rather cool temperature, together, make the 

 conditions for best growth. Still, they have a wonderful faculty 

 for drying up and then, with returning moisture, to renew 

 themselves quickly, flourish and improve the season of moisture, 

 be it longer or shorter. We find some species in dry, exposed 

 situations, as the bark of trees even in open orchards, though 

 more often in forests on rocks, on old boards, walls, and fence- 

 rails, roofs of houses. Some old shed roofs are verdant 

 gardens of many species of plants. On the ground, in open, 

 worn-out fields, we find the ground entirely occupied by Poly- 

 tricliuyn-comyniine. What seem bare banks and trodden foot- 

 paths are, on examination, found covered with mossy growth. 

 Gravel pits are often nearly covered with rosy hmomyces. 



As we examine more moist situations, we find correspond- 

 ingly ranker and more luxuriant growths. Meadows where the 

 feet sink deep into beds of Sphagnmn ; swamps where dead 

 tree trunks are a wilderness of delight, with scores of species 

 of delicate beauty in deep mats, velvety cushions and tiny 

 incrustations. Perhaps the most delightful of all mossy haunts 

 is the mountain stream. Follow the sound of the waterfall 



