TUMBLE-WEEDS.- In many instances the fact whether an annual
plant be a tumble-weed or not, depends upon the conditions of its
growth and exposure to strong winds. This is well illustrated by the
following example. In the thin grass near trees at the Michigan
Agricultural College, Trifolium procumbens has grown for thirty years
or more without showing any symptoms of acting as a tumble-weed.
In a grass garden begun on stiff clay in 1888 a patch two yards square
of this clover was planted and kept free from grass and weeds. The
clover plants became larger than usual and in autumn, to my surprise,
they broke loose from the soil and went nicely with the wind for some
distance.
In central Michigan I have seen the following plants act as tumbleweeds, and they all now grow or may soon arrive in many parts of New England.
Amaranthus albus.
Panicum capillare.
Agrostis scabra.
Lepidium apetalum.
Salsola Tragus.

Trifolium procumbens.
Cycloloma platyphyllum.
Oenothera biennis.
Gypsophila elegans.

This fall in clearing off the tops of Statice Limonium, where a
clump of it grew in the Botanic Garden, I observed that the old
stems were decayed near the ground and made no resistance as the
cluster of stiff tops were taken hold of. Here, I thought, is another
tumble-weed, for all it lacks is a good breeze. This observation on
Statice makes me wish to hear from botanists of New England regarding its habit on their coast. Can anyone enlarge the above list of
plants? - W. J. BEAL, Michigan Agricultural College.