44 



PROCEEDINGS OF THE CLUB 



Wednesday, January 28, 1903 



The meeting was held at the New York Botanical Garden ; 

 twenty members present ; Dr. Britton in the chair. 



The resignations of Mr. John J. Schoonhoven and Miss Rachel 

 W. Farrington were accepted. By vote of the Club, Miss Far- 

 rington was placed on the list of corresponding members. The 

 scientific program was then taken up. 



The first paper was by Mr. R. S. Williams, entitled "Some 

 Economic Plants of Bolivia." He stated that there are great ex- 

 tremes in temperature in Bolivia, frost occurring in the higher eleva- 

 tions for ten months of the year. Many grasses are found at these 

 elevations. The chief crops for the high lands are barley, wheat, 

 potatoes and quinoa, the seeds of a species of the Chenopodia- 

 ceae. Many varieties of corn are raised up to 5,000 to 6,000 ft. 

 Beans of many kinds are also grown. Rice is the principal grain 

 in the tropical regions. Sugar cane grows up to 4,000 ft. and 

 there are large fields of it everywhere. It is crushed by passing 

 the stalks back and forth between rollers turned by oxen. The 

 fruits of the lower country are lemons, oranges, bananas, papaya, 

 chcrrimoya, granadilla and others. A species of sorrel, Oxalis 

 titberosa, is largely cultivated. The tubers are eaten as a vege- 

 table. Tomatoes are raised, but they are poor and small. Pep- 

 pers are in great variety, and are much used. Coffee is grown 

 up to 5,000 ft. A fine quality is produced but distance from 

 market prevents its export. There are no wild fruits or nuts of 

 value in the region visited. 



The people of the higher regions, the Aymara, live princi- 

 pally on meat. They are larger and darker-colored than the low- 

 land tribes, the Quitchua, and are different in habits. 



The paper was discussed by Dr. Britton, Professor Selby 

 and others. 



The second paper was by F. S. Earle entitled " Remarks on 

 the Fungus Flora of Jamaica." He gave a brief account of the 

 topography and climate of the island. There have been some 



