70 
POPULAR SCIENCE NEWS. 
[Mat, 1891. 
tion to do work of real scientific value iucreases 
with each year. On January 1, 1890, we had 
thirty-seven members ; now \fe number fifty. 
We held fourteen meetings before the summer 
vacation, and finished o\u- course in lithology. 
We had papers on hornblende, mica, disintegra- 
tion of rocks, how granite was made, eruptive 
rocks allied to granite, gypsum, limestone, dolo- 
mite, salt, irons, copper, gold, silver, zinc, and 
tin. One motion made and carried was as fol- 
lows: "That a committee of three prepare a 
lecture on the geology of Middlesex Fells, Mass., 
with suitable specimens and maps for illustration ; 
said articles to be properly boxed for shipment 
and pliiced in the care of the Corresponding Sec- 
retary, who shall be authorized to loan them to 
any Chapters of the Massachusetts Assembly, or 
outside the State, on condition that such Chapters 
shall pay charges of transportation." This has 
been done, and they are at the disposal of any 
Chapter that cares to study them. Our by-laws, 
made when we were seven only, were found inad- 
equate for the needs of fifty, and so we revised 
them. A few improvements are as follows : 1. 
An applicant for membership has to sign a printed 
application, binding himself to work in his depart- 
ment as well as to support the Agassiz Associa- 
tion at large. 2. At each meeting we have a roll- 
call, and each member is expected to make brief 
remarks of scientific interest. 3. We hold our 
annual business meeting and elect our officers at 
the end of the year. This gives our committees 
the whole summer to plan work for the next year. 
We have two sections, botanical and geological, 
with one general business meeting a month. The 
sections meet on alternate Monday evenings at 
Hotel Pelham. The botanical section has held six 
meetings, with an average attendance of sixteen, 
all enthusiastic in their work. Through the win- 
ter they are taking up structural, physiological, 
and cryptogamic botany, one paper to be read in 
each department at each meeting of the Chapter. 
Essays have been read on protophytes, zygos- 
porete, oophytes, carpophytes, morphology of 
roots, stems and branches, buds and leaves, 
growth, absorption of liquids, assimilation, move- 
ments and evaporation. Each paper is followed 
by general discussion, and as this has been car- 
ried on in a conversational way, it has been very 
interesting. Papers are illustrated by specimens 
when possible. The geological section has held 
five meetings, with an average attendance of 
twenty-two. This section is taking up historical 
geology, and the papers so far have been on the 
Azoic Era, Archaean Age, Taconic Period, Cam- 
brian Age, and Ordovician or Lower Silurian Age. 
The general supervision of each evening is given 
to different members of the section, with instruc- 
tions from the committee to divide their subject 
Into the climate, rocks, geographical distribution, 
animal and plant life of their age or period, and to 
give these sub-divisions to other members to study 
and write about, and so create a general interest 
and divide labor. The papers are illustrated with 
specimens of minerals, rocks, and fossils, as well 
as by blackboard and diagrams. The papers of 
both sections are bound and distributed among 
those members who care for closer study. The 
Chapter has had twenty-nine outings during the 
year— fifteen In the spring, divided into geologi- 
cal, zoological, and botanical trips, with one of 
archa30logical fame to Professor Horsford's No- 
rumbega settlement of the Norsemen. One wor- 
thy of special mention was to historical Plymouth, 
after trailing arbutus ; another was on a winding 
kame through scrub oaks and brake, a weary way, 
but rich in spoils, to " Purgatory." One, on July I 
12, will ever remain a red-letter day in our calen- 
dar. We visited Eeading and were most hospita- 
bly entertained by the Chapter there. On Sep- 
tember 6 we began a series of geological trips 
preparatory to our winter's work. We studied 
limestone and granite quarries, dikes and over- 
flows, karaes and drumlins. One of the observa- 
tions given in answer to the roll-call may be of 
interest: "If one wishes to ascertain the points 
of compass, take out your watch and point the 
hour-hand directly to the sun, and half-way be- 
tween that and the figure twelve will be due 
south."— Ella F. Boyd, Sec. 
ANOTHER MICROSCOPE PRIZE. 
In order to indicate their interest in the Agassiz 
Association, the proprietors of the Poi'Ular Sci- 
ence News have decided to repeat their offer of 
last year, and oiler a fine studenfs microscope, 
valued at twenty-five dollars, to the member or 
Chapter of the A. A. sending the best record of 
personal observations to the President of the As- 
sociation before October 1, 1891. This record may 
be in the form of a note-book, or it may be on 
separate sheets. It may be illustrated by sketches 
or photographs, or it may be a simple statement 
of what has been observed, without illustration. 
In awarding the prize, due weight will be given 
to accuracy, neatness, and beauty of style, but 
the main idea is to award the prize to the person 
showing the most originality and scientific ability 
in his methods of observation, and in the results 
secured. The observations may be made in any 
field, according to individual preference, whether 
botany, mineralogy, entomology, or any other de- 
partment of natural science. All observations 
must be original and new — that is, made after 
reading this announcement. Unsuccessful com- 
petitors of last year will have an equal chance 
with all others. There are five months in which 
to use your eyes and brains, and in that time 
many interesting things should be discovered. 
Further particulars will be given in the June 
number. Correspondence on this subject should 
be addressed to the President of the Agassiz 
Association, at Pittsfleld. 
-»♦»- 
AN IMPORTANT WORK. 
A vfORK which will be of interest to all mem- 
bers of our Association is the "Journal of Pro- 
ceedings" at the third annual convention of the 
Massachusetts State Assembly. This is .an octavo 
pamphlet of forty pages, Containing the full texts 
of the papers read by Professors Beal and Hart- 
well and Mr. Ballard, the annual reports of the 
Chapters in the Assembly, and the constitution 
of that body. The expense of publication was 
met by advertisements and a limited subscription, 
and a copy is furnislied to every member without 
charge. Beside being a pattern to our other As- 
semblies, the pamphlet will be of value to any 
Chapter, as the papers — on "Vertebrate Embry- 
ology," on "Botany," and on the "Purpose of 
the Agassiz Association "—can well be read at the 
Chapter meeting. The pamphlet will be mailed 
on receipt of twenty-flve cents by Mrs. E. F. Boyd, 
Hyde Park, Mass. 
■ +♦» 
All are cordially invited to join the Agassiz 
Association. Illustrated circulars sent free on 
application. Address Harlan H. Ballard, Pitts- 
fleld, Mass. 
— t^i 
Reports from the Fifth Century (Chapters 401- 
500) should reach the President by May 1. 
LIST OF THE PLANTS OF THE DISTRICT 
OP MOSCHAISK, GOVERNMEXT OF MOS- 
COW, RUSSIA. 
BY MRS. OLGA FEDCIIENKO. 
This valuable and complete list of Russian 
plants was referred to in the April number, and 
will be continued in subsequent Issues until com- 
pleted. The sign (*) stands in the list before the 
names of such plants as cannot strongly be con- 
sidered as wild, but either are or have been culti- 
v.ated and now grow wild In gardens. 
RANUNCULACE^, JUSS. 
Thalictrumaquilegifolium,L. R. auricomug, L.,an<l typicus. 
T. simplea, L. E. auricomus, B. cassubicus. 
T. angustifolium, .Tacq. R. acris, L. 
T. angustifolium and steno- R. polyanthemos, L. 
phyllum. R. repens, L. 
T. angustllolium and laser- R. sceleratus, L. 
pltulolium, Willd. Ficarla ranunculoldes, Roth. 
Anemone hepatica, L. Caltha palustris, L. 
A. nemorosa, L. Trollius europaeus, L. 
A. ranuncnloides, L. *Aquilegia vulgaris, L. 
Myosurua minimus, L. Delphinium consolida, L. 
Ranunculus divaricatus, S. D. elatum, L. 
R. flaccidus, Pers. Aconitum septentrionale, K. 
R. flammula, L. Actsea spicata, L. 
R. lingua, L. 
HYMPH^ACE^, DC. 
Nymphsea alba, L. Nuphar luteum, Sm. 
PAPAVERACE^, DC. 
Chelidonium majus, L. 
*Papaver rhocas, L. 
*P. Bomniferum, L. ' 
FUMARIACEiE, DC. 
Corydalis solida, Sm. Fumaria ofllcinalis, L. 
POLYGALE^, JTJSS. 
Polygala vulgaris, L. P. amara, L. 
P. comosa, Schk. 
CKUOrFER^, JUSS. 
Nasturtium anceps, DC. E. odoratum, Ehrh. 
N. silvestre, R. Br. Sinapis arvensia, L. 
N. palustre, DC. Farsetia incana, K. Br. 
Barlarea vulgaris, R.Br. Bar- Draba nemorosa, L., and lei- 
cuata, Koch. oearpa, Lind. 
B. stricta, Andrz. *Cochlearia armoracia, L, 
Turritis glabra, L. Camelina aativa, Crantz. 
Cardamine Impatiens, L. Thlaspi arvense, L. 
C. pratensis, L. *Lepidium sativum, L. 
C. amara, L. L. ruderale, L. 
Sisymbrium ofScInale, Scop. Capsella bursa pastoris, Mon. 
S. sopiiia, L. C. bursa pastoris sinuata, K. 
S. thalianum, Gay et Monn. C. bursa pastoris scoronipifo- 
Erysimum cheiranthoides, L. lia, DC. 
Brassica rapa, L., and cam- Bunias orientalis, L. 
pestris. Raphanus raphanistrum, L, 
DROSERACE^, DC. 
Drosera rotundlfolia, L. Paruassia palustris, L. 
VIOLARIEjE, DC. 
Viola epipsila. Led. V. mirabilis, L. 
V. hirta, L. V. tricolor, L., and vulgaris. 
V. arenaria, DC. V. tricolor, B. arvensls. 
V. canina, L. 
SILENE^, DC 
Gypsophila muralls, L. Lychnis viscaria, L. 
»Dlanthus larbatus, L. L. floscuculi, L. 
D. seguleri, Vill. L. pratensis. Sprang. 
D. deltoides, L. L. silvesti-is, Hoppe. 
*Saponaria oilicinalls, L. Agrostemma githago, L. 
Silene inflata, Sm. Cucubalus bacciterus, L. 
*S. noctiflora, L. 
ALSINE^, DC. 
Sagina procumbens, L. S. holostea, L. 
S. nodosa, Fenzl. S. glauca, VFith. 
Spergula arvensls, L. S. graminea, L., and linearis, 
Spergularia rubra, Pers. Fenzl. 
Moehringiatrinervia,Clairv. S. graminea, B. lanceolata, 
Arenaria serpillifolia, L. Led. 
Stellaria nemorum, L. S. crassifolia, Ehrh. 
S. media, Vill. Cerastium triviale, Link. 
ELATINE^, CAMBESS. 
Elatine alslnastrum, L. 
LINEa;, DC. 
Llnum catharticum, L. 
HYPEKICrNE.«;, DC. 
Hypericum perforatum, L. H. quandrangulum, L. 
TII.IACE.E, JUSS. 
TlUa parvitolla, Ehrh. 
EUPHORBIACEiE, JUSS. 
Euphorbia vlrgata, W. ct K. Mercurialis pereunia, L. 
(210 be'continued.) 
