57 
cloma grows more out on the prairie, and is not common 
on the vacant lots. My observations were made in a 
newer part of the city, where there are many vacant lots 
but the open prairie is near. Also, I wonder whether the 
time at which Russian thistle becomes spiny depends on 
the season of the year or the age of the individual plant. 
In weeding my garden, it has seemed to me that little 
plants, whose seeds had evidently had no chance to grow 
till late in the season, begin to be spiny and hard to 
handle at the same time (early in August) as the big 
plants which started in April. But my observations have 
been neither many nor accurate enough to generalize from. 
— A. S. L., Denver, Colorado. 
Wilting of Flowers.— The time when they are 
gathered makes a great difference, perhaps more than the 
individuality of the gatherer. If the air is cool, and the 
plants not in a state of rapid supply of the evaporation 
from the leaves, they keep much longer.' Also if one plucks 
with them the larger leaves near the base of the stalk, and 
/egves tbem attached evaporation will often wilt the 
whole spra}". Keeping them as much shaded as possible 
on the road home also makes a difference. Enclosed in a 
tin botanical box many sprays will stand a short trip 
perfectly, though they would wilt if exposed to the air 
during the same length of time. In other words, evapora- 
tion trom the leaves is one of the most important factors. 
There are no doubt many others as the species of plant, 
the age of the plant, the period of inflorescence, and the 
UkQ.—Elwyn Waller, Morristown, N. J. [The note which 
prompted this interesting reply referred to an occurrance 
not touched upon by Mr. Waller. It often happens that 
of two persons going flower gathering at the same time 
in the same locality to get the same kind of flowers, one 
will return with a fresh bouquet while the flowers 
gathered by the other will be so wilted as to be absolutely 
worthless. It seems a personal peculiarity. The editor 
has seen instances of it many times and is acquainted 
with one of t!ie unfortunate individuals in whose hands a 
fresh flower will wilt in a few minutes.-ED.] 
