264 TRANSACTIONS OF THE [mAY 31, 



THE SUBJECT OF THE SANITARY INFLUENCE OF VEGETATION 

 IN CITIES, AND THE IMPORTANCE OF TREE-PLANTING TO 

 THE HEALTH, BEAUTY, AND SUMMER TEMPERATURE OF NEW 

 YORK, WITH PRACTICAL SUGGESTIONS IN RELATION THERETO. 



Prof. D. S. Martin expressed his especial interest and plea- 

 sure in the paper of Dr. Smith. He had long been convinced 

 that the greatest defect of New York was its treelessness. Its 

 position should render it a cool city, lying directly on the sea and 

 harbor, and witli rivers on either side; but these remarkable 

 advantages are largely counteracted by the fearful heating of its 

 miles of shadeless pavement and wall. Of course, the sun-heat 

 absorbed during the day must be radiated into the air at night; 

 and hence the coolness felt in the country soon after sunset does 

 not come to the relief of New York until half the night is past. 

 After speaking of the several ways in which trees and vegetation 

 tend to modify heat. Prof. Martin expressed the hope that some 

 steps might be taken, as a result of this paper, to arouse public 

 sentiment, and enlist public spirit in the direction of tree-plant- 

 ing in the metropolis, as the greatest material need, both sani- 

 tary and aesthetic, of our otherwise noble and beautiful city. 



The subject was further discussed, in a similar strain, by 

 Dr. Julien and the President. 



May 31, 188G. 

 Stated Meeting. 

 The President, Dr. J. S. Newberry, in tlie chair. 

 Twenty-five persons present. 



Mr. B. B. Chamberlin exhibited a sjiecimen of actinolite 

 from a bed of hornblendic gneiss at 135th street and ILirlem 

 Eiver. The flat, rhombohedral prisms are in radiated grouiTs, 

 with good terminations, and often from three to five inches in 

 length. They are of a deep olive-green color, and quite equal to 

 those from more celebrated localities. The associated minerals 

 are rutile and sphene. 



