78 

 Bus Trip to Fahnestock State Park, April 17 



Members of the Torrey Botanical Club joined with several 

 other outdoor organizations in a trip by bus and automobile 

 to Fahnestock State Park, in Putnam County, on Sunday, 

 April 17. New York members of the various groups made the 

 trip in two large busses, which proved a comfortable and speedy 

 method of travel, one which our club might adopt more fre- 

 quently, if a leader organizing such an excursion could be sure 

 of filling a bus sufficiently to bring the cost down to a moderate 

 figure. In this case, invitations to other clubs, resulted in filling 

 two busses which made the round trip cost only $2. Probably 

 this could be done again, if other clubs were invited. These 

 busses hold 29 and the cost for a 12 hour day is $49. The method 

 is recommended to the club, members of the field committee 

 and field leaders, for further consideration. 



When joined by members of the Westchester Trails Associa- 

 tion, in private cars, the party numbered 99. The other groups 

 represented were the Adirondack Mountain Club, Tramp and 

 Trail Club, Inkowa Outdoor Club, Green Mountain Club, and 

 some unattached individuals. 



The party followed the Appalachian Trail north from the 

 park, to a high viewpoint overlooking the lower country of 

 Dutchess County, and beyond to the Shawangunks and Cat- 

 skills. Spring flowers were few, the only ones in bloom being 

 arbutus, and spicebush, but the leaves of skunk cabbage and 

 poison poke showed some greenery along the brooks. However 

 the open ledges on the summit of Mount Sekunna, disclosed 

 some interesting lichens. One of them, Stereocaidon paschale, 

 with beautiful silver-gray, closely packed cushions of feathery 

 podetia, is a distinctly northern species, common at low levels 

 in sub-Arctic latitudes, but found with us only on high bleak 

 summits, — vanishing boreal islands. The writer has found it 

 hereabouts only on Schunemunk Mountain, in Orange County, 

 N. Y., and on Sky Top and Camelback Mountains, in the 

 Poconos of Pennsylvania. It was very abundant on Mount 

 Sekunna, several colonies occupying some square yards each 

 being found. 



Other lichens in considerable quantity and good develop- 

 ment on the ledges were Lecanora tartarea, Rinodina oreina, 



