76 General Notes. [Jan. 
It remains to be seen what the shapes of the pollen-tubes are in 
the L. nig seine sap growing free from the tissue of the style. 
of L. cardinalis were examined before the 
corolla fan Ssi and in none were the pollen-grains germi- 
nating. A careful examination of the styles, ovaries, and ovules 
of flowers çontaining germinating pollen in the anther-tube but 
not yet having the stigmatic surface protruding beyond the an- 
thers, and therefore unexposed, did not show any signs of fertili- 
zation. The pollen-tubes were often extending over the surface 
of the style, but they were not found penetrating its tissue. 
Pollen-tubes of Zodela cardinalis. 
pe aii 
Less than half an inch of rain has fallen in this locality during 
the past eight weeks, and, therefore, these plants are passing 
through an unusual drought. There is a lack of vitálity in these 
plants as a whole, and the flowers are apparently unable to fully 
perform their functions. The rosette of hairs on the style just 
below the stigma fails to carry up the pollen, partly because the 
hairs are feebly developed, and also because the stigma is. not 
protruded to its usual length. The lobelia flower is admirably 
adapted for cross-fertilization, and we should not expect to find 
here a case of the closest kind impregnation, and yet there is 
sufficient suspicion to warrant further careful watching.—JZ. D. 
Halsted, Botanical Lab. Agricul. Coll., Ames, Towa. 
The Tree-Trunk and its Branches.—In order to determine 
iota ea the general relations between the tree-trunk and 
its branches, the hide Lond in the past few years made three hun- 
ade 1 the white-oak, cottonwood, and other de- 
ciduous treos of the Northern States, and one han dred observa- 
se. In each of these four — 
