Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-10-07
Natural History Conven
tion Comes to Close.
Final Sessions Of New England
Federation Well Attended.
Interesting Talks Given by Several
Fluent Speakers.

Portland, Ne, oct. 6.-The clio ns
,ecsions Of the quarterly meeting Of
tho New England Federation Of Nat
,r.,1 History Societies We're held yes
terday and were well attended. At 10
o,c,ock in the morning there was 4
,rsinass meeting at which it was prac-
,ically settled that the Federation will
snend the first week Of July on Mount
WASHINGTON, and in the afternoon a
Marty went over on the Cape to search
= Tor specimens. The trip was much en-
loved ard in speaking of 1t last evening
Prof. John Ritchie, Jr.. the president.
,feaid that he considered the Cape shore
EssaT admirable place for nature study. OF
tourse the members who came from IN
kiaud places found very much t" inter-
- them and their only regret was that
IN could not remain longer.
AT the evening meeting two inter-
sling and instructive talks were Civ
one by Miss NJ. Edna Che,rington
slBoston on New England Moses
IA Their Economic Value" and the
kfrs by Miss Della Griffin Of Fair
Aka museum, st. Johnsbury, VT. on
EDUCATIONAL Work of Museums" The
ntieraticn was called to order at 8
koclock by President Richie, who on
enolnced the trip to Bowdoln Colltg"
| this afternoon, after which I've spoke
ot length of next summers visit to
Mount Washington. He said that this
rlace is one Of the best for study in
at h.
TINT are t. be found there Il" men
toned a :pccies of butterfly which
came there during the glacial period,
its home Icing IN Lahrad"r. This but
tnrfv lives at an altitude of 1000 feet
and never goes below that marx. 1t has
n cousin in Colorado within il IS unab!"
TO visit and which. like itself. is ma
roonel rear the SUBMITS of the noun
tans.
Miss Cherringtor was the first speak
or and at The beginning she said that
+. It is easy to study moses without the
aid of a microscope. One Of the great
charms of the study is that one may
70 out In ones backyard and find =
specimen that is not to be found else
where within 100 miles and may not
have a name. Perhaps on the city
streets one may sec peeping forth from
Between the bricks moss that is not
.lound IN any collection. One may Won
in the spring what gives the fields
md woods the green tone Wnen the
low Is melting but the bright green
ok Is given by the little mos3es which
Ia04, expanded with the moisture, hav-
6hasNeen dry in the fall. The speaker
Stsor, to say that a delightful feat
" & OF moss study is that they may be
= ken home and examined at ones leis-
eUre. Other specimens sometimes spoil
befDre they can be looked over, but a
moss may be put away and when ready
for examination all that is necessary
is to put it in warm water.
Speaking Of the economic value Of
moses Miss Cherrington said that it
was chiefly as soil producer. At the
close of the glacial period one-tcnth OF
New England was covered with small
ponds and lakes. Where the waves We're
not large enough to break up the spores,
which grew almost entirely un Ter moist
condit ions, they spread about and the
decaying portions dropped down. Other
seeds lodged in this mass and shrubs
AMI trees took root. and these helped
form soil AS n result the ponds and
lakes We're filled with peat. Thus one
tenth Of the land in New England TT
for cultivation is due to MOSES. Miss
Cherrineton closed with quotation in,
regard to moses and lichens from Rus
kin's Modern Painters" Miss Griffin's
talk was charming. and at the close
Of the meeting both Young ladies were
congratulated.