The Portland daily press., 1894-04-10
NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY.
Interesting Proceedings at the Meeting last
s{ Evening.

AT the meeting of the Natural History
society last evening, the vice president
in the chair, Mr.. Merritt l.. Fernald was
introduced as the lecturer of the even
ing, and entertained and instructed his
hearers with broad survey of the
Botany of Maine, from the point of view
of the very remarkable distribution of
plants in counGies,or groups of counties
or belts OF territory, sometimes with
strong demarkations, and of the strik
ing appearance within our state limits
of plants, we'll established and album
dant, whose only other indigenous habi-
tat is far to the West or South of New
England.
The more familiar plants of Maine,
such as the common clematis, the anemone
mem orosa the white violet, choke cher
ry, blue flag, etc., are equally abundant
at Kittery and at Madawaska. but the
greater proportion of our plants are
much restricted in their distribution.
In the southern counties flora is found
quite new to one coming from Central
Maine. That of York and Gum beTland
and parts OF adjacent counties is a con-
forms, but some plants come no farther
than Saco river, other cease as we travel
north and eastward. In The higher
parts of Oxford and Franklin "a small
group occurs, generally found only from
Western New York westward. The
af Ia - fs in
teresting ground forsthe close observer
Of plants, and presents the problems
which chiefly occupied Mr.. Fernaid in
explaining TO his audience, and in
discussing the theories which botanisfs
have advanced in accounting for the
very strange appearance of forms in I'M
looked for localities. We regret that
the demands upon our space forbid
our citing in detail the plants quoted
in illustration of his facts, and in a
full. description of the areas described,
and his ingenious and interesting con-
illusions. AS an enormous district In
the northwesterly part of the state
has not been investigated by any col.
lector, the field for local botanists is
large, and the scientific rewards it prom
Uses are rich. The work done by bota-
nlStS IN Maine during Gne pa6t Two years
has added nearly ninety plants, not be-
fore known to occur in the state, several
of them not before known as in North
America, and two or three entirely new
to science.
Mr.. Fernald urged his hearers to do
plant collecting during their summer
vacations and send the specimens to
proper institutions for Identification
and study.
The chairman read a communication
from DR.. Wood. the president, relative
to translation which he was making
for the society of an important work on
an interesting order of plants, published
By the Swedish Royal Academy.
Donations to the cabinets from Mrs.
H. P. Cox, Mrs. L. D. NJ. Sweat, Dr.C. D.
Smith, Mr.. Wright, Byron, Greenough &
Co., Mr.. Fernald, Miss Haven, Mr.. G. W.
Skillings and others were commented
upon, and votes of thanks passed. We
have not space for the list Of specimens
and books received by the society since
the last report.
The chairman presented to the society
preliminary photography of the geo
logy and mineralogy Of the state, to be
referred to the publication committee
for their consideration.
Three new mem bers were nominated
for membership.