of the white basswood (Tilia heterophylla) was observed on the brink of the precipice, not far from the house. The paper or canoe birch (Betula papyrifera) and the yellow birch (Betula lutea) are occasionally met with. The American hornbeam (Carpinus caroliniana) is not as common as the hop-hornbeam (Ostrya virginiana). The common wild black cherry (Padus serotina) with its rough checkered bark, is not uncommon. Among the hickories the small-fruited hickory (Hicoria microcarpa) is much more frequent than the shag-bark (Hicoria ovata). The ashes yield but one species, so far as observed, that was common, and this was the white ash (Fraximus americana). A second species with a tall straight trunk was observed, but the foliage was borne so high in the air that it was not possible to make a satisfactory determination of it. From leaflets picked up on the ground I am strongly inclined to think it is the green ash (Fraxinus lanceolata). Its bark was very coarse and deeply furrowed. The maples yielded the sugar maple (Acer Saccharum) in abundance, and the red maple (Acer rubrum) more sparingly. Of the black sugar maple (Acer nigrum) only a few specimens were seen. The oaks are perhaps the most numerous as to species, of which five were noted. These are: the white oak (Quercus alba), the most abundant; the red oak (Quercus rubra), perhaps next in frequency; the black oak (Quercus velutina); the chestnut or yellow oak (Quercus acuminata); and the gray oak (Quercus borealis). Other trees seen in the tract are the walnut (Juglans nigra), rare; the butternut (Juglans cinerea), common; the buttonwood or sycamore (Platanus occidentalis), rare; the largetoothed aspen (Populus grandidentata), the cottonwood (Populus deltoides), and the balm of Gilead (Populus candicans); the cucumber-tree (Magnolia acuminata) was quite frequent, especially in the woods bordering the path on the north side of the river on the way to the Lower Fall; and the flowering dog-wood (Cynoxylon floridum).

The shrubby vegetation was not particularly noted, as the time was fully occupied in inspecting the trees. One could not help but notice a number of species of the thorn (Crategus), some of them really small trees. The witch hazel (Hamamelis virginiana) was attractive in its yellow flowers just unfolding. The spice

bush (Benzoin Benzoin), the speckled or hoary alder (Alnus incana), and the dockmackie (Viburnum acerifolium) were among those seen. There were many herbaceous plants, but the time at my disposal would not permit of even a cursory examination of them. It would be an interesting work to prepare a list of all the plants growing wild within the confines of this park, and such a list might perhaps have its value to the public.

A generous offer has been received from Dr. John M. Clarke, State Geologist of New York; Dr. Charles D. Walcott, Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution; Dr. John J. Stevenson, Professor of Geology at New York University; Prof. Chas. Schuchert, of Yale University, and Prof. John C. Smock, Commissioner of the New Jersey Geological Survey, to erect at their private expense a tablet to the memory of Prof. James Hall, whose classification of a large part of the New York system of geological formations gave enduring repute to the geology of New York, and whose designation of the "Portage Group" so beautifully revealed in the Genesee gorge has given the name of Portage a world-wide fame. The design and location of the tablet are now under consideration, (See page 82.)

The attention which Letchworth Park has received during the past year from the country at large, no less than the generous interest manifested in it by the distinguished individuals and institutions above named, have given eloquent testimony to the value of Mr. Letchworth's benefaction and to the wisdom of the State in accepting the gift in trust for the benefit of mankind.

In January, 1908, this Society addressed a memorial to the New York State Water Supply Commission giving at length the reasons why a dam and storage reservoir should not be built above Portage Falls as proposed in the charter of the Genesee River Company. These reasons were, in brief, that Letchworth Park had been given to the people of the State of New York for the purpose of preserving its remarkable scenery" for the benefit of man

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kind;" that the gift was accepted, after the fullest public discussion which left no doubt concerning this purpose of the donor; that it is therefore a public trust; that to permit the impairment of its beauty will be a violation of that trust; that the building of the dam at the site designated by the charter of the Genesee River Company will be an intrusion upon a part of the Park; that the proposed diversion of water from the Falls will rob the Park of a cardinal feature of its beauty; that the proposed dam and reservoir will, for geological reasons, constitute a grave danger to life and property below; that owing to the wide fluctuation of the area of the reservoir it will be a menace to health; that the dam is not needed for some of the reasons alleged, as, for instance, the Erie canal; that other legitimate purposes can be subserved by building north of Letchworth Park; that the private interests of the three owners of the Genesee River Company should not weigh against the larger interests of the People in the Park; and that in any event, the regulation of the Genesee river should be done by the State, not by private parties.

In their Third Annual Report and their Progress Report presented to the Legislature, February 3, 1908, the State Water Supply Commission recognizes the necessity of State supervision of such enterprises as that in question and the liability that the scenic beauties of the State may be obliterated or defaced where personal and private interests only are consulted by water power owners." The Commission also expresses a gratifying solicitude for the integrity of Letchworth Park and proposes to change the location of the dam from the site named in the charter of the Genesee River Company to a point entirely south of the Park. It does not, however, see the force of the objections which we have ventured to present against the reduction of the flow of water over the falls to near its minimum, nor to the unsanitary conditions liable to be created by the exposure of ten square miles of slimy