58 



PROCEEDINGS OF THE CLUB 



Wednesday, February 26, 1902 



This meeting was held at the Botanical Garden ; Dr. Britton 

 in the chair ; 23 persons present. 



Two new members were elected, Mr. Oscar Krause, 349 Sev- 

 enth Avenue, New York City, and Dr. Vincent Baudendistel, 

 Taurus P. O., West New York, N. J. 



The first paper, by Dr. John K. Small, on North American 

 Genera of the Cassiaceae, will soon appear in print. 



Discussion followed regarding Poinceana, participated in by 

 Dr. Britton, Dr. Underwood and Dr. Small. 



The second paper by Dr. Arthur Hollick on the Flora of 

 Provincetown, Mass., was accompanied by a series of maps, 

 charts, views, and dried specimens. Dr. Hollick discussed the 

 relation of this flora to the local geology, and remarked of 

 Cape Cod that the older part from the Highlands of Truro 

 southward consists of glacial drift ; the recent part, through 

 Provincetown to the north and west, consists of drifted sands, all 

 postglacial, derived from the older portion and due to the general 

 trend of the tides and currents northward. The result is to form 

 a line of shoals along the coast now united into an outer beach ; 

 the space between this and the shore is now filling in and be- 

 coming swamp, and a new outer line of shoals is already 

 forming. 



Nothing larger now grows on the sand-dunes than small 

 stunted pines and oaks ; but Bradford's account indicates that in 

 1620 it was covered with large deciduous trees. Acts to prevent 

 further cutting of timber were passed in 1720 and later. At pres- 

 ent, the town of Provincetown, to prevent further loosening of the 

 sand, forbids passing out of certain beaten paths in the wooded 

 district. Hundreds of acres have been replanted by the state, 

 the lands of Provincetown having been successively reserved as 

 common property of the colony, province and state. It is only 

 within a few years that the land in actual occupation in and near 

 the town has been granted by the state to the occupants. 



