28 Rhodora [FEBRUARY 
Mr. J. E. Crane of Middlebury spoke interestingly of the different 
plants from which bees gather honey. The number was larger than 
is generally supposed. Samples of the honey made from the flowers 
of basswood, raspberry, alfalfa, and buckwheat were shown, and it 
was stated the raspberry honey took the highest prize at the James- 
town Exposition. 
Miss Carrie W. Ormsbee of Brandon read a carefully prepared 
paper on “Forestry and Water Supply." 
Mrs. D. C. Webster of Hartland gave a report of the orchids thus 
far found in that town. ‘They number thirty-five. 
Miss Nancy Darling described and exhibited in mounted specimens 
a number of the rarer plants of the Eshqua Bogs in Hartland. 
Prof. A. J. Grout presented a paper on “ Nature study in the Public 
< Schools.” 
Mrs. E. B. Davenport of Brattleboro read a paper showing that the 
copious gathering of ferns for florists was becoming a serious menace 
to our native fern flora. 
Mr. George L. Kirk of Rutland told of a new station, near that 
city, for the Chain Fern, Woodwardia virginica (L.) Sm. No less 
than two or three hundred plants were found. ‘They were in groups 
upon a typical sphagnum bog. With them grew large quantities of 
Osmunda cinnamomea L., of which much was of the var. incisa J. 
W. Huntington. It was stated that specimens of this variety had been 
sent to the Gray Herbarium and were reported the first ever received 
from Vermont. 
Mrs. Carrie E. Straw of Stowe reported an addition to the flora of 
Vermont in Eruca sativa L. 
Miss Alice E. Bacon of Bradford gave some additional evidence 
as to the poisonous qualities of the Showy Lady's Slipper. 
Mr. N. J. Giddings of the University of Vermont described the 
lifting power of a fungus growing under a tar-concrete walk, its 
lifting strength being estimated at two tons. 
Many shorter papers on many topics were presented, and an 
account of the summer meeting on Mt. Mansfield was given by Mrs. 
Nellie F. Flynn of Burlington. 
Officers of the Club were elected as follows: Pres., Ezra Brainerd, 
Middlebury. Vice-pres., C. С. Pringle, Burlington. Sec., Prof. 
L. R. Jones, Burlington. ‘Treas., Mrs. Nellie F. Flynn, Burlington. 
Librarian, Miss Phoebe M. Towle, Burlington. Executive Committee, 
