G7 



A veritable treasurelaiid of Ijotanical wonders is Bear Moun- 

 tain, a huge Sphagnum bog located in the mountains about sixteen 

 miles from the college. Here may be found such botanical gems 

 as the high-bush huckleberry or swamp blueberry, Vaccinium 

 corymbosum, the dainty twayblade, Listera cordata, the almost 

 extinct (in this region) American larch or tamarack, Larix ameri- 

 cana, various species of handsome trilliums, and the absorbingly 

 interesting insectivorus plants, the pitcher plant, Sarracenia 

 purpurea, and the sundew, Drosera rotundifolia. The Meadows, 

 as the place is popularly known, is a favorite objective of Sunday 

 "hikes" and a popular rendezvous of nature-loving students, 

 consequently the fiora has suffered to a considerable extent. 

 This is especially true of the pitcher plants, which are threatened 

 with total extinction, since at the present writing only a few sur- 

 vivors remain of a formerly abundant flora. Following an ex- 

 hibition last spring of pitcher plants brought in from Bear 

 Meadows and placed in the window of a local merchant, parties 

 were organized for the express purpose of hunting these interest- 

 ing plant curiosities, and the lone survivors were placed in serious 

 jeopardy. The chapter immediately launched a campaign for 

 the protection of the pitcher plant, a campaign which it is hoped 

 saved the plant from total extinction. 



Another plant which has received the special attention of the 

 society is the gorgeous pink lady's slipper, Cypripedium acaule, 

 a species formerly abundant, but now rare because of thoughtless 

 picking. Its relative, the handsome yellow lady's slipper, 

 Cypripedium parviflorum, was until recent times a not uncommon 

 member of the local flora; today it is absolutely extinct in the 

 vicinity. It is hoped that the pink species will not meet with 

 the regrettable fate of its unfortunate relative. 



The efforts of the local chapter have been extended along many 

 lines. During the first year of existence, over thirty lectures 

 were given to various groups, including fraternities. Boy Scouts, 

 Campfire Girls, the Woman's Club, the student body of the 

 Bellefonte Academy, farmers' wives and various rural organiza- 

 tions. For this purpose a set of beautifully colored lantern-slides 

 was used. The slides were collected from various sources, many 



