64 TORREYA 



Mrs. Eleanor Marquand, Guernsey Hall, Princeton ; Dr. George H. Schull, Prince- 

 ton; and Mr. C. P. Wilber, State Forester and Director, Department of Conservation 

 and Development, Trenton, are actively concerned with the problem at this time. If 

 you have not already done so you may desire to obtain information from them as to 

 their views in the matter. Any suggestions that your club, together with others con- 

 cerned, might offer regarding means of advancing this important conservation proposal 

 would be welcomed. 



(Signed) Hillory A. Tolson, Acting Director 

 National Park Service 

 U. S. Dept. of the Interior 



Dr. Small reported that a meeting of a committee of the persons mentioned 

 above had already been called to consider the problem. 



The scientific program of the evening consisted of two papers. Dr. H. K. 

 Svenson spoke on the "Ecology of the New York area." His abstract follows : 



The trip through the Local Flora Section of the Brooklyn Botanic Garden will be 

 followed by a very brief account of the ecology of the New York region, to explain the 

 areas represented by the plantings. These areas depend principally on geologic and 

 climatic conditions. As represented in the Local Flora section they are : the Pine Barrens 

 of New Jersey and Long Island; the Serpentine Barrens of Staten Island and eastern 

 Pennsylvania ; the limestone area of western New Jersey and eastern New York, and 

 the crystalline granitic rocks of the Hudson Highlands ; and the Hempstead Plains 

 section of Long Island. 



Represented are also such ecological units as a bog, a pond, a brook and a woodland — - 

 the plantations characterizing these units are also represented only by plants within the 

 Torrey Club range. 



Dr. George M. Reed spoke on the "Origin and Development of Flowering 

 Cherries" and his abstract is as follows : 



The oriental flowering cherries were largely developed in Japan and the history of 

 their origin dates back approximately fifteen centuries. The starting point was the numer- 

 ous wild cherry species growing in different parts of the Japanese Islands. The white 

 northern mountain cherry and the red central and southern mountain cherry doubtless 

 entered into the development of most of the varieties. As might be expected, there is 

 great confusion in the nomenclature of the species. The cultivated forms were devel- 

 oped largely by the wealthy daimios and by the Buddhist Priests in the famous temples. 

 Double varieties were secured many centuries ago. Probably the greatest development, 

 however, occurred in the early years of the nineteenth century. How the improvements 

 were brought about is not known. 



The cherries are great favorites with the Japanese people and there are many famous 

 places for viewing them. Some of the plantings date back for long periods of time, such 

 as the ones along the Yoshino River near Kyoto, and at Koganei near Tokyo. 



After discussion the meeting was adjourned. 



Respectfully submitted, 



Frances E. Wynne 

 Recording Secretary 



