open spaces in the peat or in spaces filled only by liquids, thereby fixing 

 the tissues in their relatively unconsolidated form. Such fossilized peat 

 contains all the kinds of plant forms that compose the surrounding normal 

 coal bed. Spores are not uncommon components of the coal-balls, but 

 what is more important to the paleobotanist is the fact that spores are 

 found associated with the organs from which they were produced and the 

 cones containing such organs. Once certain cones and certain spores are 

 definitely linked together, it becomes much easier to identify the spores 

 in terms of the plants from which they were derived. Thus a step in the 

 process of classifying spores in a natural way is accomplished. 



Extended investigations of this kind will be necessary before a 

 satisfactory understanding of the relationships of spores found in Illinois 

 coals will be attained. Since it is only a matter of chance that cones con- 

 taining spores will be contained in any coal-ball, advantage should be 

 taken of the opportunity^ to study new varieties of cones whenever such 

 discoveries are made in order that the classification of the spores may 

 proceed as rapidly as possible. 



All of this work should lead to a taxonomic classification of the 

 plants which make up the coal beds — a classification which may ultimate- 

 ly play as important a part scientifically and industrially as the classifi- 

 cation of our modern flora has played. 



— Gilbert H. Cady, 

 Senior Geologist and Head of the Coal Division. 



[6 



