1887. | BOTANICAL GAZETTE. 225 
During the return trip happy and instructive remarks were made 
upon the events and collections of the day by Mr. Morong, who acted as 
chairman, Judge Day, Mr. Canby, Dr. Beal, Mr. W. H. Seaman, Prof. 
Claypole, Dr. Britton, Dr. Arthur, Prof. Spalding, Mr. Jesup, Miss Steele, 
Mrs. Britton, Mrs. Wolcott, Mr. Fernow, Prof. Lazenby, Prof. Scribner, 
Dr. Allen and others of the botanical party, and several of the entomolo- 
gists. The presence of the son and grandson of Dr. Torrey, although 
neither is a botanist, brought the name of the venerated botanist into 
stronger association with the place than anything had previously done. 
Altogether, the club has not had a more delightful and memorable ex- 
‘cursion than the one to Sandy Hook. ; 
The Torrey Club added to the pleasure of the visiting botanists by 
opening their comfortable library and herbarium room, and affording 
every facility for consulting books and specimens. It was a spot that 
had many charms, and was much visited. The generosity and fore- 
thought of the club toward their guests were also shown in the provision 
of a set of sixty-three species of the most interesting of the flowering 
plants of the vicinity, well mounted and labeled, which they were at lib- 
erty to take away with them, forming valuable souvenirs of the meeting. 
The New York gathering will be remembered as a thoroughly de- 
lightful and profitable one. 
Dispersion of seeds of Euphorbia marginata Pursh.—This beautiful 
Species of spurge, which has within the last twelve years been first culti- 
vated in this vicinity, under the common name of “Snow on the Mount- 
ain,” or “Mountain of Snow,” proves to be quite interesting as well as 
ornamental, It has escaped, and has gone a good distance from the 
flower beds and gardens, and has made itself at home in almost all parts 
of our country along the roadsides and near farm-houses. During Sep- 
tember, 1886, I had a bouquet placed on my office table in which were 
Several sprays of this species. While otherwise engaged I heard a sudden 
tick, as if some one had thrown a small gravel against the window-pane. 
This was repeated several times, and I stepped outside the room to look 
for the rascally urchin, but failed to find him. Afterward I discovered 
that the sound was caused by the sudden bursting of the seed-pods of the 
Specimens of this plant which were in the bouquet. I kept this species 
under observation more or less constantly during the remainder of last 
Season, and have learned the following facts about it: 
The stiped ovary arises at first above the involucre, but as soon as 
the stipe is long enough to reach over the inyoluere it droops down over 
the outside, and thus remains inverted until the fruit is fully developed, 
Which usually requires nearly one week. As the capsule begins to dry 
and the seeds to ripen it resumes the erect or vertical position. This last 
movement of near 180° is generally completed in less than one day. tt. 
“Ss now ready to burst and scatter the seed. As it thus stands it consists 
