THE AMERICAN BOTANIST. 
41 
''acorn" have matured in the torus, the flowering stalk has 
become weak and bent over, so as to allow the ripe fruit at 
the top to fall into the mud and water, when germination may 
at once begin. Several young leaflets may be thrown out and 
the new plant be w^ell on its way before the cold season sets 
in. — /. Schneck, Mt. Carmel, III. 
Color of Buds and Growth. — Vegetation does not 
awaken in spring until sufficient heat has been received by each 
plant to revive its dormant protoplasm. The amount of heat 
necessary for this differs with the species being usually great- 
est in the species with southern affirmities. Small differences 
often have a considerable effect in this matter, and in the buds 
of our forest trees so slight a thing as the color of the bud- 
scales plays an important part in their development. It is 
well known that dark colors absorb more heat than light ones, 
and it is the rule with our trees that those with dark buds 
are first to show leaves in spring because they have been able 
to secure more warmth because of their color. 
Objects Imbedded in Trees. — A recent item in a local 
newspaper, referring to the finding of an iron chain, embedded 
within the trunk of an old cherry tree, reminds the writer of 
several instances near at hand. I often pass a red maple 
{Acer riibnmi) through the trunk of which, about twenty 
inches below the crotch, a log chain is hanging. Since the 
placing of the chain in the tree fork some years ago, the enlarg- 
ing, diverging branches have simply come together at their 
bases, and the soft sap wood has more or less united, making a 
continuation of the main stem. The chain literally passes 
through the middle of the trunk and could not be removed 
without splitting the tree in half. A river birch (Bctiilo 
nigra) was noticed not long ago along the shore of the Chesa- 
peake, with the bleached remains of a fisherman's clay pipe 
protruding from its side. Here at one time had been the 
crotch in which it rested. Birds and squirrels are much ad- 
