The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1921-12-01
Secretary's Report of the Dorset Soci.
ETY. of Natural Science

This has been an unusual year for
the Dorset Society Of Natural Science.
We have been most fortunate in secur-
ing speakers on subjects particularly
rich in local interest.
Our first meeting, after the election
Of officers at the well remembered
meeting at the Barrows House on
November 16, was held at Mr.. Camp
BELLS, February g. Professor Mills of
Middlebury College, spoke on the
Origin of New Plants, giving an out
line Of the progress made in the de-
velopment of new varieties Of plants
and creatures through natural selee-
ton and crossing. By means Of charts
he showed the results obtained in Ger
tain experiments with sweet peas and
butterflies, etc, explaining with these
Mende's law Of heredity and analo-
gies between the operation of this law
in physical life and chemical combina-
tons.
At this Meeting the death Of Mrs.
+. H. Terry WIS announced and suit
able resolutions entered on the min
utes. Following adjournment, re-
freshments were served to about 20
members.
March Bird saw quite a number Of
members gathered at the library
where Mr. Atkinson read a sketch of
the life and work Of August Wing and
his interest in the age Of the rocks Of
the Otter Greek Valley. Mr.. West fol-
lowed with talk on marble from its
incipiency, through the days when
quarrying was Dorsets chief industry,
down to the present. Hot chocolate
and sandwiches added to the general
good feeling Of a meeting especially
marked as the last Were we had with
us cur dear Mr.. Comba. Before our
next gathering ~ the library on April
ID he had begun his "Great Adven-
ture," LEAKING the club with never
to-be-flled vacancy and Dorset far
richer for his having lived.
April 14th was an open meeting on
various subjects Of scientific interest.
Only nine members braved the in
clement weather and the chance to be
heard in public. These were fortified
for their trip home with hot chocolate
and the presidents list Of twenty-odd
harbingers of spring he had seen that
day
June 21st brought Mr.. Congdcn to
the club with his pictures and talk on
the Long Trail. Few Of our members
heard this talk, unfortunately our lack
Of electricity caused the pictures 10 be
less clear than they might have been,
but it gave US an idea Of the beauties
of Vermont and inspired most OF US
with a desire TO see these for our
selves.
On July sth, Prof. ]. NJ. Poor Of
Dartmouth, spoke at the church with
lantern slides on some objects Of
astronomical interest Only a few
members gathered TO hear him. Rath-
er a reflector on the clubs interest in
science.
Prof. G. II. Perkins Of T. v. NJ,
talked at Mr.. Durand's on August 18th
on the "Stones q Dorset" which our
president had gathered. A most de-
lighfIl afternoon with a fatteringly
large attendance. The hospitality Of
the Durand home was again charming
ly extended to the club.
r. September the more adventurous
Of rs members climbed Ct drove 70 the
end q Kinney Hollow While some
stayed az the edge q the woods, en-
joying the view. others followed Dr..
Gilbert, who, armed with a Ratchet,
blazed trail Up over the shoulder q
the mountain where years ago the
people q Dorset cut the bride path,
meeting and picnicing with the people
o. Sandgate who worked their way up
from the other side. Trees obscured
any view but that awaited us when we
r. Joined the others a. the hollow for
ruuuer