NATURAL HISTORY MISCELLANY. 715 
Virauity of Camprum Layer or Bark. — Permit me to call 
attention to a curious fact, relating to the ‘* cambium layer.” 
While spending vacation in Andover, Mass., in July and August 
of this year, I observed an apple tree upon the premises of Geo. 
Ripley, Esq., from which the bark had been entirely removed in 
May, 1870, for the whole distance between the ground and the 
branches. The tree is about one foot in diameter, and its branches 
are some seven feet from the ground. Though this tree had been 
so thoroughly girdled, a new and healthy bark had formed upon 
its trunk, and the tree appeared vigorous and had a good crop of 
fruit upon its branches. Upon inquiry, I found that this girdling 
operation had been performed from no malicious purpose, but for 
the sake of improving the health and fruitfulness of the tree! I 
sought the acquaintance of the botanical magician who had proved 
himself so skilful in producing good from evil, and found him to 
be an old man of 86 years— Mr. Joseph Davis. He showed me 
several trees in an adjoining orchard, upon which the same opera- 
tion had been performed some six weeks previous, each tree mani- 
festing all the signs of healthful vigor and having a new, but very 
thin bark already formed upon its trunk. Mr. Davis insisted that 
the removal of the bark should be made about the first of June, 
when the new wood is most rapidly formed, and that the hand of 
the operator and every other object should be kept from contact 
with the stripped trunk for several days. He also stated that a 
heavy rain storm would kill the tree if occurring within a day or 
two of the loss of its bark, and pointed out a dead line upon one 
of the trees, running from the top to the bottom of the trunk, 
caused by the trickling down of rain produced by a light shower 
which fell within twenty-four hours of the girdling. 
I had never before seen so clear an illustration of the wonderful 
Vitality of the “ cambium layer,” a portion of which (called 
“mucilage ” by Mr. Davis) must have remained upon the trunks 
of these trees, and being protected from disturbance performed all 
the functions of the entire bark, besides speedily restoring the lost 
portions. — Frank H. Snow, Lawrence, Kansas. 
INFLUENCE OF THE PERIOD OF FECUNDATION ON THE SEX OF 
Pranrs.— The author of the “ Vestiges of Creation” advanced 
the theory that ‘all beings are at one stage of the embryotic prog- 
ress female, a certain number of them are afterwards advanced 
