1908] Excursions. 161 



the party proceeded to Fairy Lake, a beautifully retired spot. 

 On its rocky banks, the afternoon's treasures were discussed, 

 and several interesting addresses were listened to. 



Dr. Blackader reviewed the half dozen species of ferns 

 which had been collected. Some of these were shown to be in 

 the fruiting condition; and examples of the curious "bladders" 

 on the leaves of the Bladder fern were also exhiVjited. 



Prof. McCready, of the Ontario Agricultural College, Guelph, 

 was then called on. In view of the presence of so many from 

 the Normal School, he spoke more particularly on what the 

 Macdonald Institute is prepared to do for teachers. A three 

 months' Summer School will be held again next year, at which 

 teachers may get a training in nature study, school garden 

 w^ork and elementary agriculture. Rural school teachers should 

 be able to appreciate the conditions on the farm, and while they 

 can not be expected to teach the people how to farm, they can 

 still be, to quite an extent, a medium between the college and the 

 farm. Prof. McCready also believes in nature study, which has 

 an agricultural bearing, or in other words, which utilizes the 

 everyday things of the farm as its objects of study. 



Mr. J. W. Gibson, of the Normal School, called attention 

 to tlie various maples seen, and also explained some points with 

 regard to the autumn colouration of leaves, examples of which 

 were already to be found. 



Mr. J. H. Putman exhibited several climbing plants, in- 

 cluding Canada Moonseed and Climbing Bittersweet. He also 

 called attention to the Poison Ivy growing all about, and showed 

 that its poisonous properties were often over-estimated. 



Some alder twigs bearing specimens of woolly aphis were 

 shown by Mr. H. Groh, who spoke about the nature of the 

 secretion which gave this woolly appearance, and about the 

 honev dew secreted by many apliids. 



Mr. Arthur Gibson, besides presenting some specimens of 

 interest, outlined briefly some of tlie aims of the Club. One of 

 these was to still further increase the already large membership ; 

 and to this end he extended the Club's invitation to all who were 

 interested in its work, to become members. The improvement 

 of the Ottawa Naturalist, its official organ, was another im- 

 portant aim of the Club. It continues to attract articles from 

 many of the best known naturalists. 



In the course of his duties as Chairman, Mr. Attwood con- 

 tributed many valuable points. In speaking of oaks, he classified 

 them all as either black or white, and gave several easily re- 

 membered characteristics by means of which they could be placed 

 in one or the other of these groups. H. G. 



