The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1903-07-09
Summer Meeting Concluded.

Congregational church was The haal
gathering Of the botanists and orlI'hI5.
gists who were with US last week, the
greater purt Of the visitors leaving o.
the morning train, Friday.
Aside from the fact that SO few Of the
ornithologists we're able to attend. tn
meeting was success IN every way.
The attendance Of bOtanists was largef
than a any previous summer excursial .
the weather conditions were favorable
during the entire week and the splendid
opportunity for investigation and pro
curing specimens which this region al
forded aroused the enthusiasm OF everY
visiting scientist.
Without mentioning In detail the work
done on the excursions, or its results. il
may be of interest to learn that quite a
number Of new varieties Of grass, ferus.
etc., never before reported as growing
in Maine,were among the trophies OF the
botanists. MIR. A. A. Etton of North
Easton. Mass, found a species of Equise-
tum never heretofore seen Ia New Eng
land. He is making a study Of this l1e
of plants, and Is an authority thereon.
Thursday evenings meeting at tn
Congregational church. which was most
literally attended by the townspeop q.
was a treat for everyone present. The
first lecture by John Merton Swain OF
Augusta, Editor of the journal of the
Ornithological Society, treated of "The
Economic Value of Birds" Mr.. SNain's
paper showed thorough study of the
theme, and was In the nature of warl-
ing. He showed the value of many sup
posedly harmful birds, calling attention
to the great service they render the
farmer in destroying worms and insects
and predicted that unless the wanton
slaughter of these innocent benefactors
ceased, we should lose many valuable
species entirely.
The lecture on 1.-THE Birds of Maine
by Prof. Leslie A. Lee of Bowdon Col
lege, was descriptive account OF the l50
slides which he exhibited by stereopticon,
comprising valuable and interesting
collection of slides of Maine birds, many
of them secured with great difficulty.
The pictures showed the native haunts
and characteristic attitudes of the various
species described, and were supplement.
ed in the most entertaining manner by
Professor Lees remarks.
The interest shown by local enthusiastic
during the meetings and excursions OF
the week was one of the most note.
worthy features of the convention and
was extremely gratifying to the visitors,
who in their turn contributed of their
fund of information for the benefit OF
all inquiIers.
The visiting members in attendance
during the meetings were as follows:
Maine Ornthologica Association
John Merton Swain of Augusta, Editor
of the Society Journal; Prof. A. L.
Lane of Wateryille, instructor at Good
viii Farm Vim. L. Powers, secretary
and treasurer of the society and princi-
pal of Gardiner High School; and Leslie
A. Lee of Brunswick, Professor OF
Geology and Biology in Bowdoin Col
lege and Vice President of the Society.
Josselyn Botanical Club: J. Franklin
Collins of Providence, r. l., Curator of
the Herbarium at Brown University
Edward B. Chamberlain of Washington,
d. c., teacher in training school; Will
liam Penn Rich Of Chelsea, Mass, Sec
rotary and treasurer Of the Massachu-
sets Horticultural Society; Prof. A. L..
Lane of Waterville; MIR. A. a. Eaton
of North Easton, Mass, Curator of
Cakes Ames, Jr., Herbarium; F. E.
Sweetser, Cumberland Center; Miss
Kate Furnish of Brunswick, who has
been at work for some years making a
collection of Maine flora; Capt. W.
Bisbee and VIM. Foy of Norway, Mr.. and
Mrs. Chas. F. Davis of Falmouth, Me. ;
Miss L. o. Eaton and Miss Nye, South
Chester, Mass. Miss d. H. Moulton,
A. R. Stubbs, Frank S. Gould, D. W.
Fellows and Miss Nellie F. Mansfield,
Portland; E. j. Winslow, Auburn, Me. ;
S. NJ Hacker, Westbrook, Me. Martha
P. SALESMAN, Waterville, Me-, Mrs. F. S.
Stevens, Brookline, Mass; Miss E. i.
Shaw and Miss Sarah Brooks, Lexing-
ton, Mass.