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fense of the practice of stripping fence rows and park woods, and 

 it should be stopped. But laurel is a forest weed ; it interferes 

 with the development of young trees and is a nuisance where 

 silviculture is practiced. We have in this State an area of i 5,000 

 or 20,000 acres on which 'nothing of value will grow — only- 

 laurel and scrub-oak.' I do not know who owns this land, but 

 I do know that the glory of the flowers in June does little toward 

 paying taxes, and I am quite sure that any one who wants to 

 gather greens there will find little objection. 



The problem of Christmas greens, if it be a problem at all, can 

 be solved by the simplest measures of control. Restrict cutting 

 of trees or shrubs where the act will cause a disfigurement, but 

 encourage the use of all the evergreen plants, and their propa- 

 gation, as a means of making the earth more fruitful. Trees are 

 for use, and those who would save every tree must be reminded 

 that mere saving is waste. The wise, the necessary thing is to 

 make them satisfy the needs of man ; some for an hour's delight 

 at Christmas time, some for warmth and shelter, all to delight 

 the eye and cheer the heart until the time for sacrifice comes. 



Change of sex in plants is the subject of an article by Mr. M. 

 J. lorns, of Porto Rico, in Science for July 24. The following is 

 quoted in part only : " While change of sex among the phanero- 

 gams is not unknown yet it is of such rare occurrence that any 

 well-demonstrated instances as those shown by the Caricas under 

 observation are worthy of careful study. This is especially true 

 when that change can be brought about by cultural methods as 

 seems to be clearly proved in the present instance. 



" Carica papaya is a tropical, rapidly growing tree-like form 

 belonging to the Passifloreae family. As found in Porto Rico it 

 is distinctively dioecious, the monoecious form being very rare 

 except when produced as were the ones under observation. The 

 tree is non-branching, but will readily develop lateral buds if the 

 terminal bud is destroyed." The staminate flowers " developed 

 successively, continuing over a long period of time, so that there 

 is no time during the year when flowers are not shedding pollen. 

 The pistillate tree bears axillary flowers of a very different form 



