44 
THE AMERICAN BOTANIST. 
as the maples, buckeyes, birches, etc. Dr. Greene seems to 
have proven the truth of our contention, but it is to be regretted 
that the National Government has concerned itself with species- 
making of this nature. 
Production of Vanilla. — Among the ten thousand or 
more species of orchids in the world there are few that are 
commercially valuable except for the beauty of their flowers. 
A conspicuous exception is the vanilla from the seeds of which 
the well known flavor is obtained. During the past year, no 
less than four hundred and twenty tons of vanilla reached the 
market, the principal supply coming from the tropical islands 
of the old world. 
The Peanut as Food. — The little peanut that only a few 
years ago was considered by physicians as unfit to put into the 
stomach, is now the basis of food products of one of the largest 
sanitariums in the country. Analysis proves it to contain 
three times the nutriment of beef, hence as it becomes better 
known and its value realized it enters the bill of fare in the 
shape of peanut butter, salted peanuts, soup, cakes, etc. Many 
vegetarians through the country use no other bread lubricant 
than peanut butter, which has been prepared from the roasted 
nut. — A merican Nut Journal. 
An Epiphytic Virginia Creeper. — In the crotch of a 
large locust tree (Robinia Pseiidacacia) , near my home, a 
thrifty plant of Virginia creeper (Ampelopsis quinquefolia) 
has been growing lustily for some years past. When first 
noticed the main stem was less in diameter than a lead pencil. 
The plant was then probably several years old. In the eleven 
years that have elapsed since its discovery, the stems and 
lateral branches have become much longer, some of them an 
inch and over in diameter. They trail to within a few inches 
of the ground, and have climbed thirty feet to the top of the 
tree. The plant makes a vigorous growth each year, though 
it has no possible connection with the ground. Besides de- 
