1847.] Tooth of the Elephas Americanus. 31 



I mow them close to the ground as soon in the season as they are 

 high enough. I am fully satisfied that it is far better to mow them 

 when they are about six inches high, than to suffer them to remain 

 until they are nearly ready to blossom. My reason for this treat- 

 ment is plausible, I think. If the .stems are permitted to get a 

 great growth, the stolens will increase in proportion. But if the 

 stem is kept down, the roots will discontinue to spread ; and, there- 

 fore, the thistles are kept on a smaller compass of land. But if 

 they are cut just before they blossom, the effect upon the root im- 

 mediately connected with the large stem, is more fatal; whereas, 

 the stolens, on the border of the patch of thistles, will suffer little 

 or no injury by the cutting of the parent stem; and w^ill shoot up 

 new stems, and push forward other stolens about as rapidly as if 

 the old stems had not been cut. Now, by keeping the top or stem 

 cut down often, the extension of the stolens is greatly retarded; 

 and if the top is cut a few times close to the ground, the stolens 

 cease entirely to grow. Experience has satisfied me, that once 

 mowing in the former part of the season, checks its propagation 

 by stolens more than two mowings afterwards." 



Pigeon Weed or Red Root, Wheat Thief, Lithospermun, (stone 

 seed.) 



This is the last of the prize essays, and may be regarded as 

 highly important to the wheat grower. Its mode of extirpation 

 is by a rotation of crops, of which wheat forms the first and most 

 important. After plowing in the fall, and the free use of a heavy 

 cultivator, the ground is prepared and planted with corn. The 

 next season, after the same treatment with the plow and cultiva- 

 tor, the ground may receive a crop of barley or peas. It is by the 

 frequent use of the cultivator, and one hoed crop, that the wheat 

 thief can be wholly extirpated. 



DESCRIPTION OF A TOOTH OF THE ELEPHAS 

 AMERICANUS.* 



BY SAMUEL WOOLWORTH, PRINCIPAL OF HOMER ACADEMY. 



A fossil tooth of this species has lately been found in the 

 bank of a small stream, about two miles north-west of the village 

 of Homer. The stream had washed away a portion of the bank, 



*DeKay, N. Y. Fauna, p. 110. 



