Farlow.J 
387 
[1S93. 
The President announced the deatli 011 February 12 of Thomas 
Sterry Hunt, a member of the Society since October 1, 1873. 
It was announced that the Council had elected Alan Gregory 
Mason, Mrs. Elizabeth S. Watson, and Thomas A. Watson, Cor- 
porate Members, and Alexander E. R. Agassiz, James Hall, 
Felix J. H. Lacaze-Duthiers, and Rudolph Leuckart, Honorary 
Members. 
President Goodale read a paper on the vegetation of Ceylon. 
March 2, 1892. 
President George L. Goodale in the chair. Fifty persons 
present. 
The following paper was read : — 
NOTES ON COLLECTIONS OF CRYPTOGAMS FROM 
THE HIGHER MOUNTAINS OF NEW ENGLAND. 
BY WILLIAM G. FARLOW. 
Every botanist of this region, as soon as he has obtained a good 
knowledge of the local flora, naturally has a strong desire to ex- 
plore the alpine and subalpine flora of the higher mountains of 
New England. Such an exploration unfortunately requires not 
only considerable time but also considerable money. The strictly 
alpine flora is confined to the summits of the peaks of the Presi- 
dential range and Lafayette, and unfortunately the places where 
a botanist can stop within easy walking distance of the best col- 
lecting grounds are few in number and very expensive. One who 
is not acquainted with the mountain flora, especially if he is in 
search of cryptogams, finds himself on his first visit so surrounded 
by interesting forms that it takes a considerable time for him to 
distinguish and collect the different species, and he is usually 
compelled either by bad weather or heavy traveling expenses to 
put an end to his excursion long before he has obtained a full 
supply of plants. Having had some experience in mountain col- 
lecting, it appeared to me to be not unlikely that some of our 
younger botanists might like to take advantage of the knowledge 
of different localities which I have been obliged to acquire at the 
cost of a good deal of time and expense. 
My advice to one who has never botanized on the mountains 
would be not to go at once to the highest summits, certainly if he 
