THE AMERICAN BOTANIST. 



55 



Poison Ivy Leaves as an Antidote. — I have heard 

 my father, who lived on a farm in his boyhood, so long 

 a.go that a scythe v^^as the implement used to cut hay, 

 vSay that they ahvay s ate a leaf of poison ivj^ before begin- 

 iningto cut the grass in a fields as a protection against the 

 ivy they might encounter during the day's work. — Mrs. 

 K. M. Hart, Canandaigua, N. Y. 



Application of the Name, Nut-gr ass »— Referring to 

 the note in the January number, a Florida correspondent 

 says we have erroneously ap|jlied the name of nut-grass 

 to Cyperus esculentvs. This species is called "chufa," he 

 says, and is grown considerably as hog and poultry food ; 

 but C. rotundus, the true nut~grass or coca is always re- 

 garded as a plant to be destroyed as soon as possible. 

 This is, however, another instance of the indefiniteness of 

 common names. The latest manual of botany calls both 

 species nut-grass and says both are equally troublesome 

 weeds. The editor has never seen either plant living and 

 would be glad to get one or two of the tubers for experi- 

 ment if any reader can supply them. 



Improvement of the Eederberry.— A writer in the 

 November Farm and Fireside mentions a bush of the 

 common ^Id^r {Sanhucus canadensis) that appeared on his 

 land which bears berries averaging a quarter of an inch in 

 diameter. Four berries laid side by side measured an inch 

 and a quarter, while the seeds were no larger than in or- 

 dinary berries. Without doubt this is the beginning of 

 what might become a very desirable fruit if properly 

 handled. In its present state the elderberry is justly val- 

 ued for use in pies and sauce in winter. Many families an- 

 nually'' dry large quantities for this purpose. The process 

 of drying removes a certain rank flavor possessed by the 

 fresh berries, and makes them nearly equal to huckleber- 

 ries in taste. This new berry would be even more valuable. 

 Those who have gone elderberryinghave probably noticed 

 that there are two distinct varieties. One which has green 

 stems and black fruit may be called the ty^pical plant ; the 

 other has red stems to the berries and the berries them- 



