THE AMERICAN BOTANIST. 83 
tensely natural savage, who languishes in pines under civilized 
restraints ; the weeds to that hardy savage with some taste of civil- 
ization, that has adapted himself to his conditions and flourishes 
under amazing restrictions. 
They hold a bare, unvegetated spot to an abnormal condition 
and seem to consider it a point of weedy honor to clothe these nak- 
ed places on the bosomof mother earth, but there would be fewer 
complaints were they to confine themselves to the wayside and 
* barren assigned them by the Lord of the earth, and not strive so 
stoutly to fulfill their office on spots uncovered by men. Even 
stonewalks in neglected estates are covered from sight by the ac- 
tivity of the knot weed {Polygonum aviculare), that embodiment 
of weedy qualities. The first season, from the. edge of the flag- 
stones, it spreads a hardy crop of vegetation. Wandering gusts 
settle layer upon layer of dust over the plants till they are sub- 
merged and life is departed, though not until they have attained 
their end by producing seed. A later crop springs into life upon 
this shallow soil and they repeat the operation. This continues the 
third season and the fourth and in a very short time where was 
once the Vv^alk is the green stretch of weed. Portions of city 
streets not subject to much traffic must be hoed during the sum- 
mer months tO' prevent them acquiring a rural appearance owing 
to the activity of this vegetable rodent. 
Hartford, Conn. 
NOTES FROM PORTO RICO. 
By O. W. Barrett. 
The sensitive plant (Mimosa piidica) , is one of our worst 
weeds in pastures here. It's sharp claw-like spines cause almost 
as much profanity among the field laborers as do the ant nests. 
It attains a length of six feet or more rambling about in the grass 
and low bushes. 
The Ceylonese Alocasia niacrorhiza, likewise has a bad reputa- 
tion here because it preempts the choicest plats of moist, rich soil 
and ccrries out the squatter policy most successfully. When left 
■unmolested for a few months it reaches a height of 6 to- 8 feet, 
