232 



to make these relations clearer. In this combination of two 



flowers in one, two stamens and two segments of the perianth 



appear to have been lost. 



Northwestern University, 

 EvANSTON, Illinois. 



NEWS ITEMS 



The prizes announced in Torreya for February offered by the 

 Journal of Heredity for photographs of the largest deciduous trees 

 in the United States, have been awarded. In the order of size the 

 largest trees entered in the contest and their girths are as follows : 

 Sycamore, 423^ ft.; Tulip tree, 343^2 ft.; Chestnut, 331^ ft.; 

 American Elm, 33 ft.; Black Walnut, 24 ft.; and White Oak, 21 

 ft. Besides the amount of information secured through the con- 

 test as to big and historical trees, there are many significant 

 trends in forest geography suggested by the results. A prelim- 

 inary report of the contest appears in the Journal of Heredity 

 for September. 



Dr. L. O. Kunkel sailed for Stockholm on September 25th for 

 a year's study abroad. 



Mr. Guy R. Bisby has gone to Purdue University, Lafayette, 

 Indiana, to fill the position vacated by Dr. F. D. Fromme. 



We regret to record the death on September 30 at his country 

 home at Stamford, Conn., of Mr. Lowell M. Palmer, who for 

 many years maintained one of the best private collections of 

 evergreens and rhododendrons in this country. Hundreds of 

 specimens at the New York Botanical Garden and the Brooklyn 

 Botanic Garden were presented to those institutions by Mr. 

 Palmer. 



We learn from Science that the sum of $25,000 has been put 

 into a trust fund by the late Anna Yarnall for the support of the 

 botanic garden of the University of Pennsylvania, as long as 

 the garden "is under the supervision of the head of the botanical 

 department." 



