iO 





THE OTTAWA NATURALIST. 



Vol. XX. OTTAWA, JANUARY, 1907. No. 10 



PRESIDENT'S ADDRESS. 



W. J. Wilson, Ph. B. 



The Ottawa Field Naturalists Club was formed I take it to 

 study the Geology and Natural History of Ottawa and vicinity. 

 This seems on the face of it to be a praise-worthy object, yet we 

 are constantly met with the question What is the good of it all ? 

 Only a few days ago I was asked if I thought it was worth while 

 for a busy man or woman to spend his or her time in working for 

 the Club. I naturally answered the question in the affirmative, 

 and in the five minutes at my disposal this evening I will give 

 some of the reasons why 1 think it is worth while. 



It seems to me that a good knowledge of the botany of the 

 district is in itself a good thing and the same may be said of the 

 insects, birds, fossils, rocks and every other subject^ which we 

 study. Some of these studies are of considerable economic im- 

 portance. We frequently see crops in fields largely reduced in 

 value owing to the abundance of weeds, which if the owner under- 

 stood he might either destroy or largely reduce. It is a case 

 where ignorance is not bliss. The study of the life history of 

 insects has enabled our entomologists to point out the best and 

 most effective way of destroying those that are injurious to plant 

 life, and in this way have saved large sums to our farmers, 

 gardeners and fruit growers. It is very useful to the contractor 

 to know the quality of the rocks in his immediate neighborhood 

 and where he can get the best material to use in s the 'construction 

 of buildings, etc. Now the detailed work that our members have 

 an opportunity of doing year after year enables them to study these 

 and kindred questions to the best advantage, and the Club has 



