Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1905-08-04
THE BIG FORK
BIOLOGICAL
What Was Done by the Scientists
During the Second Week Of
the outing.
SOME NEW ARRIVALS SHOW UP
Several Interesting Lectures Are De-
Iivered-Prof. siIIoway, of Lew
istown, Keeps Busy.

The second week at the Universe
ty of Montana Biological station at
Bigfork, on Flathead Lake, closed
with the people among the woods at
Swan Lake. Two lectures were CIV
en- to the public, both being attended
by practically all the people in the
neighborhood.
The station party was increased
by the arrival of Miss Shaffer, teach.
er in the Kalispell public schools.
and Mr.. and Mrs. Frank A. Scheu
Der, of Livingston, with their two chill
dren. The juvenile class has proven
a success, and nearly twenty chill
dren are taking advantage of the les
sons given by Mr.. Bonser and Miss
Norton, and are making rapid pro
gress.
During the week a party visited the
ing a study of the method OF convert
ing logs into the finished product.
The lecture on Monday ewing by
Mr.. T. A. BOnser was concerning Al
pine life. The speaker explained how
life at high attitudes shows many IN
teresting variations from normal con-
ditions. Trees in Alpine surround
ings have shortened trunks and
dropping branches. Flowers in noun
tan valleys develop more brilliant
cOlOring than the same flowers in low
er attitudes. Lichens are the first
plants to obtain a foothOld on rocks,
and they form a thin stratum of soil
for the growth of MOSES. Rock
slides are destructive to plants that
have succeeded in cinging to noun
tain sides, and the disintegration of
weathering hinders accumulation of
soil for extensive plant growth. Trees
occur on ridges, as the early melting
of the snow there facilitates more
termination than in the valleys where
the snow lies longer. The lecture
was illustrated with many beautiful
lantern slides made by the station
instructors.
On Thursday evning, July q, Prof.
M. j. Elrod gave an illustrated lee
ture on the subject, Irrigation in
Montana" The speaker discussed
the various resources of the state
giving special emphasis to the agricul,
tural side. 1t was pointed out that
but small portion of the state suit.
able for irrigation is now irrigated
With the abundant crops to be raised
on irrigated land, and the large mar
ket awaiting the product there is
a b,,p6an, f,, -,
The speaker expressed great hopes for
Montana in the near future. calling
it an empire in itself producing its
own coal. metals and lumber. and
capable of supplying most of the food
products necessary for the sustenance
OF the inhabitants. The lecture was
illustrated with over a hundred Ian
tern slides.
Several important observations in
ornithology have been made by Mr.
Silloway. The beautiful Tennessee
warbler, first found last season in
this region, appears TO be absent this
summer though it probably was here
earlier and concluded its nesting per
iod before the ornithologist began his
search for it, Among the birds visit
ing the cherry orchards. the Louisiana
tanager was the most common tres
passer lately. though, as usual, the
robin, cedar waxing, black-headeG
grosbeak, purple finch, and others
were observed feeding on the fruit
The American crossbills are unusually
active, and the males are singing
their nuptial songs, an important fac
to show that these handsome bird:
nest In this region, and apparent,
rear their broods in the midsummer
a very unusual departure from the or
dd::Hnary nesting season, which is in late
winter or early spring.
Prof. Bonser has been diligentl,
searching the fields and forests 70
plants with diseases, and has a larg,
list, much larger than has been mad
by any previous collector. He has al
ready formed more than two dozel
plants affected by some parasti
growth