-85- 



to add to my former list, bringing the whole number up 

 to fifty-three species and varieties. 



A thy ri um filix-faomina f. rhccticum, A. f. f. angusti- 

 folium, Botrychium tcrnatum intermedium, Dicksonia 

 pilosiuscula f. schisophylla, Xephrodium spinulosum, N. 

 s. f. dumetorum, X. Boottii, X. cristatum x Marginalc, 

 X. cristatum f. Slossonco, Onoclea sensibilis f. obtusilo- 

 bata, Struthopteris gcrmanica f. obtusilobata. Polystich- 

 um acrostichoidcs f. incisum, P. A. f. crispum, JVoodsi-a 

 obtusa. 



Xorthampton, Mass. 



THE SCOURING RUSH ALONG THE 

 MISSISSIPPI 



Through the courtesy of Mr. A. A. Eaton we are able 

 to print below an interesting extract from Flint's Geog- 

 raphy,, published in 1853. Under " The History and 

 Geography of the [Mississippi Valley," the author says : 



" The rush, Equisetum hycmale. grows on bottoms, in 

 grounds of an intermediate elevation between those of 

 the cane-brake and the deep overflow. It is found, in 

 humbler growth, quite to the sources of the [Mississippi. 

 But it finds its full development between 36 and 33 °. 

 YVe have travelled among this grass ,a perfect mat, as 

 high as the shoulders. Nothing can exceed the brilliance 

 of its verdure, especially when seen in winter, in con- 

 trast with the universal brown. When it grows high and 

 thick, it is difficult to make way through it ; and it has 

 a disagreeable kind of rustling, which produces the sen- 

 sation that is called setting the teeth on edge. In north- 

 ern regions its tubular stock is apt to fill with compact 

 icicles. It is well known to be the favorite range of 

 horses and cattle, and is devoured by them with more 

 greediness than even cane. When filled with ice, and 

 thus swallowed, it produces a chill in the stomach of 

 cattle, that is apt to prove fatal. To the cattle and horse 

 boats, that descend the Mississippi, it is an invaluable re- 



