THE ANNUAL MEETING AND ELECTION OF OFFICERS 11 



Mr. F. W. McBride the new director elected by the Indiana 

 Nature Study Society, now affiliated with the main society, was 

 present and spoke of the activities of his home Society. Two other 

 local nature study societies were invited to affiliate with us, one at 

 Toledo, Ohio, a member of which Mr. Van Cleve was present. 



The officers are now as follows: President L. H. Bailey was re- 

 elected; the vice-presidents elected are M. A. Bigelow (N. Y.), 

 B. M. Davis (Ohio), C. F. Hodge (Oregon), S. B. McCready 

 (Canada), Alice J. Patterson (Illinois). 



In the list of directors those numbered (i) were elected last year 

 and hold over for the current year; (2) are the ones elected at 

 the present meeting who hold office two years; (3) are those 

 elected from the local branches as indicated. (1) L. H. Bailey, 

 (N. Y.), (1) Anna B. Comstock (N. Y.), (1) John A. Dearness, 

 (Ont.), (3) H. C. Drayer (Mo.), (2) J. A. Drushel (Me.), (3) P. W. 

 McBride (Ind.), (1) Jas. G. Needham (N. Y.), (2) C. H. Robi- 

 son (N. J.), (2) S. C. Schmucker (Pa.), (1) W. A. Slingerland (N. 

 Y.), (3) G. Straubenmueller (N. Y.), (2) Gilbert H. Trafton, 

 (Minn.), (2) R. E. Wager (111.), (3) W. W. Whitney (111.). 



The present Secretary-editor was re-elected. 



Indoor Plants 



Chester A. Mathewson 



Brooklyn Training School for Teachers 



Times change, and even the revered rubber plant (Ficus elas- 

 tica) of other days in Brooklyn no longer commands the attention 

 it did. As a house plant, it nevertheless has no superior. It 

 thrives under very indifferent care, resisting adverse conditions 

 of moisture, atmosphere, illuminating gas, dust, light, tempera- 

 ture, and parasitic insects to a remarkable degree. Even school- 

 rooms do not offer severe difficulties in the growth of a rubber 

 plant. It is said that in Brooklyn the growers used to sell a score 

 of these handsome plants where now they sell one. 



If the schools can educate the children, and through them the 

 parents in the direction of encouraging the growing of plants 

 in the home a distinct service will be rendered. It is only in and 

 through nature-study with children that the schools can do this 



