JOURNAL OF MAINE ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



23 



in the study of botany in any of its 

 various departments, whether as pure 

 science, in its aesthetic relations as 

 contributing to the pleasure and poetry 

 of life, or in its strong practical as- 

 pects as applied to Agriculture, Horti- 

 culture and Forestry. The last men- 

 tioned is an important branch which 

 is now engaging the earnest attention 

 of practical men and students in all 

 parts of the country, and Maine is al- 

 ready giving careful attention to the 

 means of preserving her forests and 

 wood lands. 



A society like ours may benefit 

 Agriculture in -many ways dui especial- 

 ly by noting the introduction and 

 spread of injurious weeds that timely 

 warning may be given and means 

 taken for their eradication. Illustra- 

 tions of this are seen in the cases of 

 those two pernicious weeds, Hierac- 

 ium aurantiacum (Orange Hawkweed) 

 and Hieracium prealtum (King Devil 

 weed). The wild carrot is an instance 

 and several other weeds have recently 

 been brought from Europe and the 

 West which may need watching. Plant 

 distribution can be successfully stud- 

 ied only by an association or by many 

 individuals in various parts of the 

 State. 



As an accomplishment and as pure 

 science Botany may be made a source 

 of unlimited pleasure and satisfaction. 

 Its study inculcates habits of close 

 observation and of keen analysis. Its 

 pursuit also demands exercise in the 

 open air and every square foot of 

 earth becomes to him who understands 

 it a volume of history written all over 

 and illustrated by Nature's own hand. 



It was stated on good authority in 

 1892, that there were then more than 

 one hundred persons actively engaged 

 in the study of the Flora of Maine, 

 some of whom spent only the summer 

 season or a portion of it in the State. 



Botanists of the latter class have done 

 admirable work on Mount Desert Is- 

 land and elsewhere along the coast as 

 well as in many little knownregions in 

 ^roostook, Somerset and Franklin 

 counties. The number of workers is 

 undoubtedly greater at the present 

 time, but the field is large, and to a 

 great extent yet unexplored. 



Our society, during the few years 

 of its existence, has accomplished 

 something in most of the lines indi- 

 cated. Forestry has been considered 

 and farmers in various sections have 

 been warned of the advent of danger- 

 ous weeds, many plants new to the 

 State have been found and reported 

 by members, and one variety which 

 has not been reported from any other 

 station in North America. On the 

 other hand it has been shown that the 

 statement found in nearly all the 

 books that the Walking Fern has been 

 found in Shapleigh, Me., is an error, 

 that it never was collected there or 

 elsewhere in the State, so far as any 

 records show. 



The Connecticut Valley Botanical 

 Society was organized in Springfield, 

 Mass., June 10, 1873, and twenty-two 

 years later the three societies were 

 formed which are at the present time 

 the most alive and active in New Eng- 

 land, viz: The Vermont Botanical 

 Club, 4 July, 1895; The Josselyn Bot- 

 anical Society of Maine, 12 July, 1895; 

 The New England Botanical Club, 10 

 Dec, 1895. 



The present officers of the Josselyn 

 Society are Prof. A. L. Lane Water- 

 ville, President; Miss Dora II. Moul- 

 ton, 9 Hill St., Portland. Secretary; 

 Miss Nellie F. Mansfield, 144 Middle 

 St., Portland, Treasurer; Dr. D. W. 

 Fellows, Portland, Rev. B. P Snow, 

 Yarmoutb, Miss M. A. Clark. Ells- 

 worth, Committee of Arrangements. 



