ACTIVITIES OF THE CLUB 85 



will increase with fuller knowledge of their range of variation. Ability to identify 

 a wood is of practical value to timber dealers and users and an important aid to 

 taxonomists in determining imperfect herbarium material and in preventing or cor- 

 recting faulty classification. 



The essentials for systematic study of woods are : 1. A comprehensive and repre- 

 sentative collection of samples obtained with herbarium material determined by 

 competent taxonomists. In the Yale collections there are 40,700 catalogued samples 

 representing nearly 12,000 named species of 2,800 genera and 232 families. 2. A col- 

 lection of slides with cross, radial, and tangential sections for examination under the 

 microscope. The Yale slide collection contains about 19,500 slides of 11,072 specimens 

 of 6,506 name species, 2,616 genera, and 218 families. 3. Careful examination of the ' 

 slides by trained anatomists and the preparation of descriptions and tabulations of 

 all essential features. The standards used are those approved by the International 

 Association of Wood Anatomists after several years of cooperative effort. 4. The 

 use of the assembled data for making keys or other aids to identification. INumerous 

 keys to special groups have already been published and others are in preparation. 



The task is very large, difficult, and costly and can only be carried out success- 

 fully through cooperative efforts. Ordinary taxonomists, though willing to accept 

 the aid of the anatomist in a time of trouble, make no effort to secure material 

 essential for anatomical study. Fortunately there are exceptions to this rule and 

 The New York Botanical Garden is foremost among American institutions in en- 

 couraging its botanists to collect wood samples. Systematic wood anatomy has made 

 its greatest progress during the past decade for the simple reason that during that 

 time research workers in various parts of the world effected an organization and 

 pooled their efforts and materials. The best incentive to further progress would be 

 the addition of new and better material which botanical expeditions could so readily 

 supply. 



Because discussion of the talk was sharply curtailed at 9 :30 p.m. by the sounding of 

 sirens for an air raid drill, the meeting quickly adjourned to darkened halls, where by 

 the light of a lantern, Dr. Record graciously identified wood specimens presented by 

 members of the audience. 



Honor M. Hollinghurst, Recording Secretary. 



May 15. Field Trip to McLean Woods, The Bronx, N. Y., for spring study of the area. 

 Species lists were prepared and filed with the Field Committee. Leader, Mrs. Mary 

 Holtzoff. Attendance 14. 



May 16. Field Trip to Point Pleasant, N. J., to search for Britton's Violet, of which a 

 good stand was found, and in addition a large number of other plants. Leader, Mr. Louis 

 Hand. Attendance 7. 



May 21-23. Field Trip to Culvers Lake, N. J., for the Annual Branchville Nature Con- 

 ference. In order to have the conference at the most desirable season and without in- 

 creased expense to those participating it was necessary to change from THE PINES 

 to THE HALTERE for accommodations. This proved satisfactory. Leaders: Mr. 

 Wallace M. Husk, Professor Oliver P. Medsger, and Dr. Julius Johnson. Attendance 

 40. 



May 22. Field Trip to Ridgewood, N. J., to see the Rhododendron seedbeds, nurseries, and 

 stock of the leader, Mr. G. G. Nearing. Attendance 10. 



May 29. Field Trip to Haskell, N. J., for fungi of the Chicohikie Falls region, especially 

 Fissipes acaulis, of which there was plenty. Leader, Mr. F. R. Lewis. Attendance 5. 



