Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1899-02-02

Vermont M~yxomycetes. another kind Of
fungi commonly known as mushrooms.
She mentioned several species hitherto
found in only a few places in America
and said that only a small portion Of the
State had been heard from. Miss Whit
ney distributed a list of 40 species and
varieties of Myxomycetes, asking for con-
tributions of specimens in order to COM
plete it.
Mrs. Buckham then read a paper by
Miss Anna NJ. Clark, L. V. NJ, 'ss, on the
need of pushing nature study in our com
mon schools. Miss Clark said in part:
'This used to be a fad in Massachusetts
and Connecticut but it is now dy-
ing out for the reason thai
science work poorly taught is practically
valuelcss. Instructors should each COM
mon things. They should bring the child
into contact with what is about him ev-
cry day. The trouble now lies in the un-
fitness of teachers and the unWiliinsness
of school officials to promote the work.
The branches of science least open 10
these objections are botany and zoology,
of which the former is more available.
The club can do much to help nature
study along by interesting both children
and teachers in botany"
In the absence of w. W. Eggleston of
Rutland, President Brainerd explained the
work which Mr.. Egsleston did in the vi
cinity Of Pownal last summer. Botanists
have hitherto been unable to identity
nan of the species reported by DR.. ROB-
bins as found in Vermont, rs years ago.
OF these Mr.. Eggleston has found a great
many near Pownal. President Braineru
spoke very highly of the persistence with
which he has worked and OF the results
which he has attained.
A. c. Dyke then exhibited some rare
specimens which he had collected from
Bristol Bog Pond, one of the best stations
for rare plants in Vermont. He has sue
ceeded remarkably well in preserving the
natural co,ors of the plants in his herbarium
notably the delicate greens of the ferns
and the orchids. Among other specimens
he showed one which has heretofore been
found only at the mouth of the Little o.
ter, but which he discovered in one of the
streams flowing into the pond. These are
the only stations for this species in the
United States.
Prof. Balch next read n paper by A. ].
Grout, Phi. D., OF Hanover, n. H., de
scribing a trip to Mount Washington. He
named a number of common Alpine plants
which are found in fuckers RaVine and
on the summit l. ing the remarkable diff
ference between the plants our there
and those growing on Mount Mansfield and
in the notch.
THE Surprises of a Familiar Flower"
was the subject of a paper by Miss NJ. B.
Smith. In her absence it was read by
Miss Eunice Smith. 1t told IN an interest
ing way OF the great man kinds of Vio-
lets and of the puzzles which they are
affording to botanists in an attempt to
classify them.
Clifton d. Howe. L. V. NJ, 'qS gays 4 de-
scription of the Hepaticae Of Vermont,
which closely resemble MOSES. To Frost's
list of As species he has added % others
and he said that there was no reason why
every one Of the l+0 Hepaticae named for
North America by Gray. should not be
found in Vermont, lie mad an urgent
appeal for help from the member of the
cub in completing the list, A preliminary
list will soon be published by the Univer-
Sity.
The last paper on the programme was
one on Frost Cracks in Trees" by T. +
Boyce of Middlebury, which was read by
Carlton Howe. Y. V. NJ, '9S Mr.. Boyce
said that he had observed, while in the
from near the ground upward six or even
twenty feet. When the thermometer
was about zero, he had seen these cracks
open an inch or more. AS far as he had
investigated the matter, he had found
these cracks only in trees partly decayed
which contained water. If this last point
is verified. it Will be a new discovery, al
though frost cracks have been known
and studied for some time.
The last number on the programme was
a roll call, 1t was an innovation, now
triel for the first time at the meetings,
and brought forth some interesting field
notes. Among them was the announce
ment of the discovery of a new species
of dandelion for the State by Prof. Brain
crd. He thought that it ought to be found
in most parts of Vermont. Irof. Burt
showed a specimen of mushroom picked
from a stump on Friday. Mrs, Buckham
spoke of the work done during the past
| ctip,p,nt ~ hN Miss Anna NJ rIa ri. Of the