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may have something to do. The Botany Club used to have a rule 
that a family of plants should be assigned to each member for 
her summer’s work. She might do all else she pleased, or get 
all the help she could in that, but on that work was expected a — 
special report. Without determining the limits or nature of such 
personal division I would suggest that it might take some such 
form as this: All the members identify themselves with one or 
more of the various sections, as of geology and botany, and let 
them choose or have assigned the subjects they will study. Geo- 
logically it might be the Green Lakes of this county, the Tully 
lakes, the gypsum beds, the Hamilton shales, the gas wells, the 
mineral springs. A long catalogue could be made. ‘Take in all 
else you choose, but study the subject assigned. The result will be 
a definite gain to the student, and possibly a gain to science itself. 
Let it be understood that a simple report by each one shall be 
made of observations at some proper time. In this way you have 
no wall flowers, no mere listeners, but a body of workers, helpful 
to all. 
There are some old subjects not unworthy of notice. Pursh 
mentioned some plants here that are not otherwise on record in 
a wild state. These may be rediscovered. In the summer, in old 
times, the waters of Skaneateles creek almost disappeared in the 
crevices of the limestone ledge. What was the probable effect 
on the underlying strata? Bird life and fish life have changed 
here; what were the old conditions? Are game laws alone to be 
depended on? or are there other agents? 
I spoke of concentration of work. Our flora and fauna, and 
partially our geology, have here a double division. There is the 
gradual descent from south to north, geologically and in altitude 
The lines of division in this cross the county from east to west. 
Some birds inhabit the southern towns which are rare in the 
northern, or vice versa. Many shells are nowhere found south of 
the canal. The same law applies in plants, and in fossils of 
course. 
Then we have a second cause of division. Five great valleys 
run from south to north, until the canal is reached, and each one 
of these has peculiar features. The gypsum of Nine Mile creek 
