352 General Notes. 
bracts or short leaves. The specimens of this species examined 
were quite erect, not geniculate, nor rooting at the nodes. 
The culms of M. diffusa Schreb., M. neomexicana Vasey, are 
much like those of the former species, only they are geniculate, and 
root freely at the nodes. 
From those which are geniculate and rooting at the nodes, it is 
only a step to those which bear rootstocks on or below the surface 
of the ground. 
. comata Benth., produces branching rootstocks about five 
mm. long by one mm. in diameter. ese are covered with thin 
bracts rather loosely appressed, and from one to two mm. long. 
They represent the sheaths of leaves only. 
M. glomerata Trim., has rootstocks much like those of M. comata, 
only the internodes are a little shorter and the appressed scales 
more abruptly pointed. M. willdenovii Trin., has rootstocks which 
are rather larger, with internodes still shorter (14 mm.), the 
scales broad, appressed, and more abruptly pointed than either of 
the previous species of Muhlenbergia. 
The scales of M. mexicana Trim., are rather short, and bend 
abruptly away from the rootstock. The scales of M. sylvatica (T. 
and G.), are much like those of the former species. — W. J. Beal, 
Agricultural College, Mich. 
Errect OF Ick Upon Trees. — In the latter part of March 
of the present year a heavy fall of freezing rain covered the trees 
of eastern Nebraska with a coating varying from one-third to one- 
half an inch in thickness. Every twig, every bud was encased in 
a thick, transparent, icy envelope, whose weight bent and broke a 
t number of branches from the trees. There was a notable 
ifference in the behavior of the different trees under this weight 
of ice. Trees with branches standing approximately at right 
angles with their axes fared best, while those with more upright 
the cottonwood, it was plain that those approaching the exeurrent 
type of ramification suffered least. Some trees of this type were 
