Davis: Naturat History ReEcorps 147 
Mr. Wm. T. Davis called attention to the great destruction of 
the vegetation and soil of the island by the many fires of Sunday 
April 22. The circumstance of a gale of wind, dry conditions of 
the countryside, and a Sunday, occurring together, produced the 
usual result so far as Staten Island is concerned. Numerous per- 
sons set fire to their yards, to the grass of the hillsides, and to the 
woodland, with the result that many destructive fires were in prog- 
ress throughout the day, and in several instances the fire depart- 
ment was called upon for aid in saving fences and buildings. 
These fires are often started with the mistaken idea that some 
benefit results therefrom. It is true that for one or two years the 
grass may come up greener, but unless fertilizer is applied, which 
is not ordinarily done, the soil is just as certainly destroyed as if 
a fence or other structure had been consumed. As to woodland 
thickets and the woods themselves, there would seem to be but 
one conclusion. If our citizens as a whole really cared for the 
beauties of nature and took an interest in the trees and lesser 
plants and flowers individually, the next woodland fire on our 
island would be considered a misfortune. Anyone who has 
watched the gradual disappearance of our onetime extensive flora 
can not but lament the deliberate choice of a majority of the 
people in favor of destruction as opposed to conservation. There 
are several places remaining under strict protection, where these 
woodland fires have been prevented, and anyone may compare 
the result of the fires started by themselves with the varied, inter- 
esting and beautiful conditions to be found in the unburned areas. 
These observations seem trite and self-evident to any real ad- 
mirer or student of nature but in this matter we are confronted 
by the progress of ignorance. 
The meeting of May 25, 1923, was held in the home of the 
Staten Island Historical Society, the old Perine House, 1476 
Richmond Road. 
Mr. W. Lynn McCracken read a letter from the Russell Sage 
Foundation assuring cooperation in the effort to decrease the 
number of brush fires on the island and reported that the South - 
