204 ROCHESTER ACADEMY OK SCIEN'CE. [Feb. 25, 



walls to permanently retain the water at any higher le\el. That 

 water stands for a time over the marsh is proven by the growth of the 

 birches which have all developed "knees" in order to carry the 

 trunks abo\e water. 



The letter of Professor Rowlee is here appended. 



Ithaca, X. V., Oct. 28, 1895. 



My Dear Professor Fairchild : I received your letter and also the box of 

 specimens Saturday and have e.xamined the material to-day. 



The large piece from a depth of nine feet had leaves and stems of the large 

 cranberr}- ( Vaccinimn tnacrocarpon). The leaves are so characteristic that I do 

 not believe there can be any mistake about them. Although I did not find 

 them connected with the stem, I feel ver}' sure that the little brown sticks nm- 

 ning through the mass are cranberry stems, they ha\e such a fixed habit of 

 sending out superimposed roots at their nodes. 



The minute fibers nmning all through the mass are the vascular elements 

 of the rootstocks and roots, a few of which occur intact in the specimen. These 

 are from a species of sedge, I think, but just w hich species I do not certainly 

 know. All the circumstances point to its being Carex filiformis, a plant which 

 now is one of our most effective bog-builders. 



Here, as in other specimens, 1 have been surprised in not finding organized 

 remains of sphagnous moss. In no case yet ha\'e I yet found it in specimens 

 taken from considerable depth. It seems to wholl\- decompose and disintegrate. 



The block of wood from a depth of eight feet is Acer riibnan. 



The specimens from ele\en feet have, so far as I can see, the same 

 materials as those from nine feet. O.xidation has blackened the fibers much 

 more, however. 



The specimen from nine fVet has a large leaf which I cannot at present 

 identify. Its margin is gone and the \enation is not sufficiently preserved to be 

 traced. It is pierced by numerous fibers which shows pretty conclusively that 

 the fibers pertain to underground parts. * * * * * 



Sincerely yours, 



W. W. Rowi.KE. 



The following paper was read by the author : 

 A CITY'S NEGLECT OF A GREAT OPPDRTrXITY.* 



Bv J. ^'. McClintock. 



This paper dealt with two engineering problems prominently 

 before the citizens of Rochester, namely : the enlargement of the 

 section of the Erie canal through the city of Rochester, and the water 

 storage of the Genesee river. The paper called attention to the 

 necessity of the city safeguarding its own interest, and of anticipating 

 any engineering plans which might be framed by the authorities to the 

 detriment of the locality. 



*The paper is published in full in the Rochester Demociat and Chronicle, February 26, 1896. 



