NEWS ITEMS. 149 



NEWS ITEMS. 



On the twent}-third of ]\Iay the Torrey Botanical Chib held a 

 special meeting in celebration of the tenth anniversary of the 

 commencement of work in the development of the New York 

 Botanical Garden. The meeting was held in the musenm build- 

 ing of the Garden, and the program consisted of an illustrated 

 lecture by the President of the Club, Dr. Henry H. Rusby, on 

 " The History of Botan}- in New York City." Dr. Rusby traced 

 the development of botanical activity in the city of New York 

 from the time of Dr. Torrey, and previously, to the present. The 

 account of various earlier attempts to establish a botanical garden 

 in the city was especially interesting, as was also the tracing of 

 the growth of the Torrey Club, and the bearing of the Club's work 

 on the establishment of the Department of Botany in Columbia 

 University and the organization of the Botanical Garden. 



At the close of the lecture there was,an informal reception in 

 the library, followed by an inspection of the laboratories and the 

 museum exhibits. 



Bills have recentl}- been signed by Governor Higgins which 

 will save two scenic treasures to the people of New York State — 

 Hook Mountain on the Hudson River, and Watkins Glen, at the 

 head of Seneca Lake. 



Hook [Mountain rises 730 feet, on the west bank of the Hudson, 

 about two miles north of Nyack. It was being rapidly blasted 

 away, and had it been destroyed, one of the most beautiful points 

 on the river would have been marred. Now that the future of 

 this site and of Ralisades Park are assured, it is expected that this 

 part of the Hudson will be very popular for summer outings. 



\\'atkins Glen, with its cascades, waterfalls, and deep pools, is 

 one of a great number of picturesque gorges in south central New 

 York, in what is known as the Finger Lake valley region. It is 

 the result, physiographers now believe, of ice erosion. In an 

 article on Watkins Glen in the Popular Science Monthly for May, 

 Professor Tarr says of it, " From the standpoint of either the 

 geographer, the geologist or the lover of scenery, a visit to any 



