Voted that the next meeting be held on December 14, instead of 

 December 21, the date specified by the constitution. 



The following persons on motion of the nominating committee 

 were elected officers : 



President — Chancellor Henry M. McCracken, \}.D.. LL.D. 



Vive-Presidents — Dr. John H. Denbigh, A. T. SchaufHer, 

 William T. Hornaday. 



Secretary — Rev. F. Barrows Makepeace. 



Treasurer — Olin J. Stephens. 



The Council — Dr. X. L. I'.ritton. Chairman; Victor H. Paltsits, 

 Rev. Henry M. Brown, Arthur A. Stoughton, Walter E. Hallett, 

 Albert E. Davis. G. Gordon Copp. 



Lecture. 



"The Hemlock Grove on the Banks of the Bronx River, and 

 what it signifies : with a review of the History and Literature of 

 the Hemlock Tree." Illustrated by lantern slides, by Dr. X. L. 

 Britton. 



THE HEMLOCK GROVE OX THE BANKS OF THE 

 BROXX RIVER AXD WHAT IT SIGXIFIES. 



The forest of Canadian hemlock spruce along the Bronx River, 

 within the portion of Bronx Park set apart for the Xew Vork 

 Botanical Garden, is one of the most noteworthy natural features 

 of the Borough of the Bronx, and has been characterized by a 

 distinguished citizen as " the most precious natural possession of 

 the city of Xew Vork." I shall attempt to describe it in some 

 detail and to indicate the relationship of this hemlock spruce, com- 

 monly known in America as hemlock, to other evergreen trees ; 

 to indicate its natural geographical distribution, trace its history, 

 and discuss its OSes. 



This forest exists in the northern part of Bronx Bark on the 

 banks of the river and their contiguous hills; its greater area is 

 on the western side of the stream, but it occupies a considerable 

 space on the eastern side above the Lorillard Mansion and bel< w 

 the '" Blue " bridge. The area west of the river extends from 

 just above the " Blue " bridge down stream to a point nearly 

 opposite the old Lorillard Snuff Mill, and is the part commonly 

 designated " Hemlock Grove." Its total length along the river is 

 approximately 3.000 feet: its greatest width, 900 feet, is at a 

 point on the river about 700 feet above the water fall at the 



