Proceedings of the Club 411 



or by drops of rain-water on first falling, or by holding a sponge 

 of ammonia or of chloroform near. The utility seems unknown, 

 except as the hot sun setting the leaves on edge prevents injury 

 from intense sunlight Sachs' suggestion was that the depression 

 of the leaves served as a protection from hail ; but it now appears 

 that the native center of the plant is chiefly in the Orinoco region 

 where hailstorms are unknown. Much energy is exhausted by 

 folding, and it is well known that the greenhouse sensitive-plants 

 are frequently worked to death by repeated irritation. 



The second paper was by Dr. Rydberg, on "The Oaks of the 

 Rocky Mountains. " Dr. Rydberg exhibited examples of 28 

 species of this region. His paper will soon appear in print. 



Edward S. Burgess, 



Secretary. 



Tuesday, April 9, 1901 



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Fifteen persons were present. 



The announced scientific program consisted of a " Report of a 

 recent visit to the Royal Gardens at Kew, England," by Mr. 

 George V. Nash. Mr. Nash was absent about six weeks, nearly 

 the entire time on the other side being spent at the Royal Gar- 

 dens, Kew, securing specimens of living plants for the New York 

 Botanical Garden. The collections were carefully inspected under 

 the guidance of the officers of the institution, and such duplicate 

 material picked out as was desired. In this way much valuable 

 material was secured, both for the outside and conservatory col- 

 lections. Many of these were procurable only at a botanical gar- 

 den, and a number of them were not obtainable elsewhere than at 

 Kew. Of the large number of plants selected, over iooo species 

 have already been received and incorporated in our collections, 

 These include about 550 species of herbaceous plants, 350 shrubs 

 and trees, and 150 succulents. The remainder of the material will 

 follow as fast as the authorities at Kew can select it. 



Dr. Britton remarked that the favor accorded by Sir William 



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