j Note and Comment. ^ 
Wanted.— Short notes of interest to the general botan- 
ist are always in demand for this department. Our read- 
ers are invited to make this the place of publication for their 
botanical notes. It should be noted that the magazine is 
issued as soon as possible after the iiftccnth of each month. 
The Uses of Bark.— We are so accustomed to see- 
ing thick and rugged bark on all old trees tliat we usually 
think it the natural result of age. According to Dr. Francis 
Ramaley, however, the trees in warm, moist regions, where 
they do not need to l>e protected from cold or from drying 
out, have smcx-)th irutiks, even in old trees. Some approach 
to differences of this kind may be seen in our own trees. 
Those with rough bark are usually found in the dryest 
and most wind-swept positions. 
Edible Ferns. — The young fronds of various species 
of ferns are occasionally used as pot-herbs in America, but 
we must go to the other side y)i the world to find such things 
among the regular articles of commerce. Tons of bracken 
(Ptcris aquilma) and royal fern [Osimwda rcgalis) are 
used anrmally by the Japanese. The young bracken fronds 
are cut off before they have unfurled, soaked in wo«xl ashes 
and water for a few days to get rid of the bitter taste and 
are then like asijaragus. The royal fern is collected 
just as the fronds are developing, and after l>oiling are 
pressed and dried for use as occasion ref^uires. 
Swamp-Plant P.^rtnerships.— All normal plants 
appear to l>e endowed with tiny one-celled root 
hairs near the tip of each root. l)y which plant 
f.>od is absorbed from the soil, but \arious plants have set 
up partnerships with certain fungi whereby the fungi, in- 
