778 General Notes. [ December, 
Georgia. But this is more remarkable”! It seems strange that 
the growth of this plant in the middle region of the State “should 
have escaped the notice of that acute observer, the Rev. M. A. 
Curtis. That it did will be seen from the following, taken from 
his catalogue :? 
“ Oval-leafed Laurel (R. catawbiense Michx.).—This splendid 
laurel is chiefly confined to the highest summits of our moun- 
tains, but is said to extend somewhat into Virginia. It is often 
confounded with the preceding [R. maximum Linn.], but besides 
its different locality, growing only on the tops of such mountains 
as the Roan, in Yancey, and Negro Mt., in Ash, it blossoms 
earlier than the other, though ata higher elevation, has larger 
leaves. T * * * It stands cultivation pretty well in the 
middle district.” 
Since the above correspondence I have been informed that this 
plant grows luxuriantly on the north side of the Oconechee 
mountains (hills from two hundred to three hundred feet high), 
near Hillsboro, the home of the late Dr. Curtis, at an altitude of 
from seven hundred to eight hundred feet. Not only does it 
stand cultivation in the middle district where it ts indigenous, but 
it seems to thrive in the lowland of the eastern part of the State. 
they were planted many yea o by my friend, the Rev. Dr. 
Cheshire.—Prof. F. W. ai, Dena of North Carolina. 
THE TWINING OF THE STEMS OF THE HEDGE BINDWEED, ETC.’ — 
Several plants of Calystegia sepium (hedge bindweed) were faith- 
fully studied, for some weeks, by S. W. Beaumont. It is generally 
stated that the stems of this ‘plant ascend by coiling met the 
sun, or from right to left, as viewed from the outside. a stalk of 
nettle were observed two vines twining in opposite dieiis 
__ By tracing these two vines, they were found to preserve their . : 
opposite directions for their entire length. Another plant had 2 
two branches starting near the root. Each of these branches, 
and every branch on these divisions throughout, preserved the 
same course. This was also found to be the case in a vine twin- 
ing in an opposite direction. Experiments to induce vines to 
reverse their course proved of no avail. Straight stakes were 
placed in the ground for the vines to twine about. After arriving 
at the top, the vines fell or lopped over; some drooping slightly, 
some ascending. If the top of a plant is weak, the vine often 
leaves it before reaching the top. Sometimes the vine becomes 
'Dr. Gray has kindiy added a note on this point to an article in the Bulletin s 
the Torrey Botanical Club for July and August, 1879. 36. 
2 The Woody Plants of North Carolina, Raleigh, 1860, p. 97- e 
- 3 Abstracts from mpm of students of Michiganu Agricultural College, made me 
Professor W. J. Beal, 
