206 BOTAXICAL GAZETTE [march 





that the major part of our coal beds, like peat deposits, does not 

 represent a gradual accumulation of successive generations of 

 fallen plants in swamps, but rather a long continued and peaceful 

 sedimentation of wind-blown and drifted plant fragments and 

 minute organisms in the depths of open bodies of water. 



In conclusion, the writer wishes to express his sincere thanks to 

 the Committee of Sheldon Traveling Fellowships of Harvard Uni- 

 versity for the granting of a fellowship, the stipend of which has 

 made possible these investigations; to Professor R. Thaxter of 

 Harvard University for samples of peat; and to Professor E. C. 

 Jeffrey for advice during the course of the work. 



Harvard University 



LITERATURE CITED 



i. Chamberlin, T. C, and Salisbury, R. D., Geology. 3 vols. New 

 York. 1904-1906. 



2. Davis, C. A., The ecology of peat-forming plants in Michigan. Report 

 Mich. State Geol. Survey. Lansing. 1907. 



3. , The uses of peat for fuel and other purposes. U.S. Bur. Mines, 



Bull. no. 16, pp. 214. Washington. 1911. 



4. Fordyce, W., A history of coal. London, i860. 



5. Geikie, A., Textbook of geology. London. 1893. 



6. Harper, R. M., Preliminary report on the peat deposits of Florida. 

 Florida State Geol. Survey, 3d Ann. Rept. pp. 206-375. Tallahassee. 191 1. 



7. Jeffrey, E. C., On the composition and qualities of coal. Economic 

 Geol. 9:730-742. 1914 



8. ■, The mode of origin of coal. Jour. Geol. 23:218-230. 191 5. 



9. , The nature of some of the supposed algal coals. Ptoc. Amer. 



Acad. 46:273-290. 1910. 



io- Potoxie, H., Die recenten Kaustobiolithe und ihre Langerstatten. Berlin. 

 1908. 



11. Renault, B., Sur quelques Microorganismes des combustibles fossiles. 

 Extr. Bull. Soc. Ind. Minerale 14:1-460. 1900. 



12. Sanford, S., and Matson, G. C., Geology and ground waters of Florida. 

 U.S. Geol. Survey, Water Supply Paper no. 319, pp. 50. 1913. 



13. Scott, D. H., Studies in fossil botany. London. 1900. 



14. Stevenson, J. J., Formation of coal beds. Proc. Amer. Phil. Soc. 50:1- 



116, 519-643; 51:423-553; 52:31-162. 1911-1913. 



15. White, D., Davis, C. A., and Thiesson, R., The origin of coal. U.S. 

 Bur. Mines, Bull. no. 38, pp. 390. 1913. 



