THE FIRST DECADE OF THE GARDEN. 



On the afternoon of May 23, 1906, the Torrey Botanical Club 

 held a special meeting at the museum building in honor of the 

 tenth anniversary of the commencement of work in the develop- 

 ment of the New York Botanical Garden, planting having been 

 commenced in the spring of 1896. The program consisted of 

 an illustrated lecture by the President of the Club, Dr. Henry H. 

 Rusby, who is also a member of the Board of Managers of the 

 Garden, on "The History of Botany in New York City." 



The lecturer presented a historical sketch of the development 

 of botany in the city of New York, giving special attention to the 

 history of local botanical gardens, of the botanical department of 

 Columbia University, and of the Torrey Botanical Club. The 

 earliest local work related to the botanical gardens of Colden, 

 Michaux, and Hosack, and to the publication of local catalogues 

 and floras. The second period was that of text-books, manuals, 

 and other educational works. Out of the associations resulting 

 from local work, the Torrey Botanical Club developed so gradu- 

 ally that it was impossible to fix the date of its actual beginning. 

 Portraits of its early members were exhibited, and brief biograph- 

 ical sketches presented. Out of the activity of the Club, and of 

 the botanical department of Columbia University, grew the de- 

 mand for a great botanical garden, which was satisfied by the 

 establishment of the present New York Botanical Garden. The 

 contemporary botanical forces at work in the city were briefly 

 described, and their most important present needs outlined. The 

 complete address will be published in Torrey a for June, 1906. 



After the lecture an informal reception was held in the library, 

 followed by an inspection of the laboratories, library, herbaria, 

 and the museum and greenhouse exhibits. 



C. Stuart Gager. 



A LARGE OAK STRUCK BY LIGHTNING. 

 During the first thunderstorm of the season, which occurred 

 1 April 21, the largest pin oak (Quercus palustris) within the 



