Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1911-02-14
The .Josselyn Botanical Society.

z
ple actively interested in the study of
Maine plants thought that an organiza-
ton of some sort would b. of great
value to them and others with like inter
ests. The suggestion was first made 6y
Mrs. b. K. Morrell, OF Gardiner, and
was soon put into action by Prof. N. L.
Fernald, of Harvard University. Prof.
Fernsld had been engaged in the revi-
sion of the Portland Catalogue Of Maine
Plants 1892, and had been in CORE
spoudence with collectors all over the
state. A circular, signed BY some OF
these botsnists, was issued, calling q
convention of Maine botanists at Port
land, from July 18th to 10th, 1895.
This first meeting was held at the
rooms of the Portland Society Of Natural
History, which has always co.operated
with us most cordially In all botanical
work. A constitution was adopted, and
seveuty-two charter members we're re-
ported. Although the scientific botan-
lists have naturally predominated In the
programs of the meetings, there have al
WAYS been numerous members who were
nature. lovers in . less technical sense.
These good friends of plants and woods
and fields have always been most well
come at the annual meetings, and have
added to their interest and success.
Since 1895 q meeting has been held
every summer, in June, July or August.
Although some meetings have been held
In the central part of the state, as, for
instance, those at Waterville, Dover,
Skowhegan and Pennington, the tend
ency has been to select places near the
borders, with the hope of finding there
new and interesting species and unfsmil-
lar floral conditions. Thus the society
has met at Kittery, Peaks Island, Mt.
Desert and Machias on the coast, OF
HoultOn and Fort Kent In Aroostook
County, and at Sbapleigh, Parsonsfield.
Oxford, Pleasant Ridge Plantation, and
Jackman in the western part OF the state
In this way the members with herbaria
have increased their collections largely
II has not been unusual for an amateur
to add twenty to fifty new specimens al
single meeting.
The present membership is fifty-six,
of whom eighteen live outside Of Maine.
Most of these latter, however, were borr
| In Maine, or spend their summers here
There Is no close corporation idea II
connection with the society, and al
people In any way interested In Maine
plants are welcome as members. There
| il an initiation fee of $500, and annua
dues of so cents.
For various reasons the last two OF
three meetings have been poorly attend
ed. The officers have felt that perhaps
the society needed moro advertising
1t seems, also, that q larger share OF TIT
duties of the society should be borne BY
permanent residents of Maine. A sum
msr meeting will be hold 10 Brunswick
the last week of August next, and win
ter meeting In Portland, February 24tt
and 25th, 1911.
We wish to call the society and IL
needs to the attention of the following
classes OF people:
4. All members, present or past.
2. All teachers of botany in tn
schools and colleges of Maine.
8. All nature-lovers who wish Il
know more of the plants about them
and who love to 60 a6eld.
4. All botanists In other states VIII
are interested In the Maine fora.
All such We urge to attend our meet
liups and unite with us. The continued
existence and success of the society !
absolutely dependent on . larger ant
more active membership, especially. q
Maine residents. II 10 hoped that thi
appeal will help to put the society on
secure basis. There are thriving botani
cal societies In Connecticut and Vsr
mont, and the New England Botanica
Society In Boston holds well-attende'
monthly meetings. Cannot Maine sup
port . society - we'll - these othe
states? sy1A& d q sf,
| Address all communication TO DR.. D
w. Fellows, Secretary, Portland. Ne.