Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1905-07-28
THE MONTANA
BIOLOGISTS
SEVENTH ANNUAL SESSION OF
UNIVERSITY STATION At
elGFORk.

The seventh annual session of the
University of Montana Biological sta
ton at Bigfork, on Flathead lake. be-
gun on Wednesday, July -. The first
week has just closed. The attendance
includes persons from several states.
In addition to the director of the sta
tion, Morton j. ElrOd, of the Univer-
sity at Missoula, the following had
assembled at the close of the first
week: Thomas A. Bonser, teacher
of science in the Spokane high school,
who in addition to his work of in.
struction. has taken up the study of
plant diseases; Miss Gertrude Norton,
of East Helena, who assists in the
work Of instruction and continues her
studies in botany, which she has pur-
sued at the station for two summers;
P. M. Silloway, superintendent OF
schools of Lewistown, who continues
his study of birds; Superintendent G..
A. Kitchan and wife, of kaispell; c.
Harry Scherf, of Elizabeth, n. j., who
is getting acquainted with the flora of
the region: Curtis Greene. of St. Paul,
who is making a study of the for
ests: Miss Helen James, of St. Paul,
taking photogra ply; Mrs. A. NJ. Burt,
of jamestown, working on insects;
Arthur Lehman, of Lewistown, who
spent last season at the station. will
continue his work on plants. and in
cdentally work at photography; Char
les Fowler. of Lewistown, who will
work on photography and also study
the forests.
The accommodation in the out.
door laboratory are already taxed
and still others are to arrive. The
weather has been perfect. adding ma
terially both to the comfort of the
workers and to their pleasure in camp
life. The grounds about the labora
tory are white with tents. and many
little contrivances have been devised
which add to the conyeniences fol
work.
One feature which adds materially
to the possibility for work at the
station is the utter absence of the
mosquito. Last year there were no
enough mosquitoes in the region tt
encourage the study of the group b,
the naturalsts. They are as scarce
this year as they We're last season
There are many opinions in regard tt
their great decrease in numbers
Some think it due to lack of higf
water. For two seasons past The
snow in the mountains has been ligh
and the amount of water in the river;
and lakes has been correspondent.
small. But the young larvae do no
live in the moving waters. Small
pud,lles of standing water will pro
duce them in abundance. An alfalf;
field on bench land where mosquitoe
have never been known will produc
crop of the insects in a short tim
if it is well watered. Certainly tn
clearing of land around the upper en-
of the lake has had as much to d
with the downfall of the mosquito a
the low water. Every year swamp
are drained, brush cut out, and Ian
cleared. The sunshine dries up tn
puddles and the air blows wher
formerly it could not reach for brus
or timber. If puddles dry up the lal
vac cannot live. If air currents reacl
region the wind soon pounds tn
winged insects to death. Either sur
shine or wind, or both together Wi
soon clean up good mosquito croI
Then the absence of the early raj
has a material influence on the insec
If there are no puddles for the d.
velopment of the first crop the late
crop must of necessity be small.
Certain it is that, whatever ma
be the cause, the upper end of Fla
head lake and the forests adjacer
have for two years been entirely fire
from mosquitoes, and are as free frol
this pest at this time as is the cit
of Missoula or Great Falls.
The lakes and rivers have unus
ally low water for the season of tt
year. Flathead lake has not had i
usual rise this year. Swan river is :
low now as it usually is a month Ia
er.
A juvenile class has been organi
ed at the laboratory. An invitatit
was extended to the parents OF Ri
fork to send children of school age
the laboratory on regular days. AS
result many children are being siv'
elementary lessons on plants and al
mails. Miss Norton and Mr.. Bons
have charge of the class.
The first lecture was given to Il
pubic Ou "culeoud! CNChihS' 'u
10, in the basement of the hotel. Pr
NJ j. Elrod presented the subje
'The Debt of Science to Lewis a
Clark The stereopticon was use
and more than a hundred slides we
thrown upon the screen. The seco
lecture was announced for Mond
evening. July "a. when T. A. Bons
will present the subject, alpine Lift
illustrated with the stereopticon.
Supt. P. M. Silloway. who has do
SO much toward the study of the bi
life of the state, has already ma
some interesting observations.
has spent six summers at the labo
tory, and in that time has noted ma
changes and variations in the b
life of the woods and swamps. Bill
come and go. They are great expl
ers and wanderers. A sturdy OF
bird life of any region for per
of years always gives interesting a
sometimes startling results. A nj
Der of new facts have been learI
which will add a great deal to
knowledge of the birds Of the ste
The station gives promise OF "
successful year, and the workers
attendance are out early and late