202 THE Ottawa NATURALIST. [January 
years old, which, however, showed, a number of secondary rings 
between the four principal year-rings. The consensus of opinion 
was that these minor rings seemed to show the record the tree 
kept in its growth of times of drought. and abundant rainfall. 
This brought up the question, whether the rings in a red beet are 
of similar origin as those in a tree or not, and as to the difference 
in structure between that vegetable and similar ones, like the 
carrot. Another question which was variously answered was, 
why the tamarack sheds its leaves and other conifers do not. 
These two questions were given to Messrs. Campbell and J. M. . 
Macoun respectively to look up and report on at the next meeting. 
A collection of mounted plants made this year by the writer 
was shown for inspection in which two specimens proved of some 
interest, namely, Gallium verum, Yellow Bed-straw, which had 
been found in a very restricted locality by Mr. Whyte twenty-five 
years ago, and not since then; and Monarda didyma, Oswego Tea, 
from High Falls, Labelle Co., Quebec, new for ‘the district. An 
interesting collection made by Mr. W. H. Harrington was shown 
by Dr. Fletcher. é 
G. EIFRIG. 
The second meeting of the Botanical Section was held at the 
residence of Mr. J. M. Macoun on Dec. 14th, the members present 
being Messrs. Eifrig, Whyte, Attwood, T. E. Clarke, Campbell 
and Prof. John Macoun. Some time was spent in examining speci- 
mens collected near Ottawa by the Rev. G. Eifrig. Messrs. 
Campbell and J. M. Macouu read several extracts referring to the 
falling of the leaves of coniferous trees, the conclusion arrived at 
being that the foliage-leaves of most conifers are very persistent 
and may live for several years, but that they do not fall at fixed 
periods ; the leaf cushions keep pace in growth for a long time 
with the increase in size of the axes. In Zavix and Salzsburia the 
leaves alone are deciduous each autumn, in 7axodzum distichum 
the axes that bear them are also deciduous. 
The discussion of the structure of a beet-root, begun at the 
previous meeting, was resumed but no satisfactory conclusion was 
arrived at. 
J. M. M. 
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