124 



The resignation of Mrs. Wanda Kirkbride Farr was read and 

 accepted. The election of Miss Maude Lovering, Miss Rosa 

 Ostertag, Dr. Paul Weatherwax and Mr. Eugene Brennan 

 followed. 



The President appointed J. F. Adams and B. O. Dodge to 

 serve on the committee on Crop Protection of which Dr. E. W. 

 Olive is chairman. 



The announced scientific program consisted of a lecture on 

 "A Botanical Excursion in Colombia" by Professor H. H. 

 Rusby. The lecture was illustrated by lantern slides. The 

 following abstract was furnished by the speaker. 



" Dr. Rusby carried his audience up the valley of the Mag- 

 dalena River to the head of steamboat navigation, describing 

 the broad savannah lands which stretch away to the mountains 

 on either side, in the lower valley, and the gradual entrance into 

 the hill country, and then into the mountainous region higher up. 

 The savannahs are covered with luxuriant pasture grasses and 

 support an important grazing industry. In the moist places are 

 seen colonies of pampas grass, twenty feet or more in height and 

 highly ornamental. Colonies of trees and shrubs, largely Mi- 

 mosaceae, and frequently Palmae, dot the plains and fringe the 

 banks of the river. Many herbaceous and shrubby fio\^rering 

 vines support themselves upon these shrubs and trees. Above, 

 the savannahs gradually give place to forests, which at length 

 become very heavy. Close to the water occurs a growth of 

 Cecropias of several species. Back of these are Ceibas, some of 

 them of great size. Still farther back is a highly diversified 

 forest growth growing richer as the mountain regions are en- 

 countered. At the head of steamboat navigation, travel by 

 mule is substituted, the route passing through a great variety 

 of soil, climatic and altitudinal conditions. Arid plains are of 

 great extent and upon one of them occurs a large petrified forest, 

 very similar to those of Arizona. Climbing the mountain slope, 

 the traveller passes through all climatic belts to the limit of 

 forest growth, but in this locality does not encounter glacier 

 conditions. At one point the forest growth appears quite tem- 

 perate in character, comprising oaks, walnuts, Ericaceae and 

 Vacciniaceae, blackberries, raspberries and strawberries. 



