1913] The Ottawa Naturalist. 13 



bean (Dolichos roseus), butterwood (Conocarpus procumbens), 

 Burrbush (Triumfetta althaeoides), passion flower (Passiflora 

 minima and P. coerulea), fennel (Foeniculum vulgare), prickly- 

 pear (Opuntia vulgaris), vervain (Stachytarpheta jamaicensis), 

 sage bush (Lantana crocea and L. odorata), bindweed (Polygonum 

 convolvulus) , spurge (Euphorbia buxifolia) , pigeon-berry (Duranta 

 plumieri), Spanish bayonet (Yucca aloifolia), aloe (Aloe 

 soccotrina). 



There are 27 ferns, including a very pretty Maiden-hair. 



A list of plants which had escaped from gardens, noticed 

 during the visit was presented as well as one of introduced weeds. 

 Numerous specimens and views were shown by the speaker as 

 well as some fruit, but unfortunately this latter had not kept 

 well. Several questions were asked by members present, and 

 altogether it was a most interesting meeting. 



E. H. B. 



Feb. 15th, at the home of Mr. Geo. H. Clark, the following 

 members being present: Messrs. G. H. Clark, R. B. Whyte, 

 H. T. Gussow, J. W. Eastham, J. R. Dymond, H. A. 

 Honeyman, A. Eastham, E. D. Eddy, J. J. Carter, D. 

 Freeman and J. W. Gibson. Two topics were presented, (1) 

 "Elevator Screenings as a Means of Plant Dispersal," by Mr. 

 J. R. Dymond, of the Seed Branch of the Department of Agri- 

 culture. (2) "Common Fungi in Wood," by Mr. J. W. Eastham, 

 Chief Assistant Botanist of the Experimental Farm. Both 

 topics were treated by the respective leaders in a thoroughly 

 capable manner and were discussed by the members present. 



Mr. Dymond, who has made a thorough investigation of 

 the uses as well as the dangers connected with elevator screen- 

 ings, having spent some time at the large elevators at Fort 

 William, first dealt with the great menace to agriculture arising 

 out of the rapid spread of noxious weeds in Canada. He gave 

 some figures that cannot but challenge the attention of every- 

 body interested in our leading industry agriculture. He 

 stated that no less than 10,000 tons of weed seeds were screened 

 from western grain handled at the elevators at Fort William 

 annually, and estimated that the cost of harvesting, threshing, 

 freighting and screening weed seeds was in the neighbourhood 

 of half a million dollars per year. These seeds, however, were 

 not entirely worthless, and sometimes represented quite a con- 

 siderable revenue to the elevator companies, who shipped them 

 in car load lots to Chicago and other American cities, where 

 they were used as fodder. From $10 to $12 a ton is paid for 

 such elevator screenings at Fort William, so that the con- 



