Progress! Canadian Conference for Nature

Soliciting workers for planning the upcoming Canadian Conference for Nature (C.C.F.N.) hasn't proved to be an insurmountable problem.

All the major committees have chairmen and several enthusiastic

workers, and a lot of progress has been made since the October N.H.S. Meeting.

Firsf,our Conference dates have been finalized for August 16—21, 1978, and arrangements for accomodations and conference rooms at U.P.E.I. are well underway.

The Conference Committee has met twice, and on October 27 the programme for the sessions was approved in principle. No doubt some minor details will be changed but the Programme Committee can now go ahead and contact speakers. The exact title for the CCnference has yet to be decided. However the obvious impact of man on the P.E.I. and Maritime scene will be a major topic of the Conference.

Mary Majka and David Christie of the New Brunswick Federation of Naturalists (N.B.F.O.N.) met with us in Charlottetown on October 26 and gave their whole—hearted support to our programme thus far. The N.B.F.O.N. will be hosting a number of field trips in New Brunswick. Thus naturalists driving through N.B. to P.E.I. will be able to stop and enjoy New Brunswick's wildlife, and in the company of other natur—

alists. The N.B. tours will add a wider Maritime dimension to the Conference. Meanwhile, the local Field Trip Committee is working on a number of

tours to take in representative areas of P.E.I. Right now they're timing some proposed trips to find out just how much of P.E.I. can be crammed into one day, while still maintaining an enjoyable tour! We've also obtained support from the National Museum of Canada for a proposed wildlife photography session at the Conference, a first for the C.C.F.N. The Museum has kindly agreed to loan us an expert photographer in the person of Silvija Ulmanis. ‘

Money-wise we've already received $250 from the Canadian Nature Fed- eration to get us on our way, and we are looking into support from government departments and private enterprise. We're seriously

aiming to be the first host province to make a profit on the Conference, so wish us luck. But better than depending on luck, we're counting

on you, our members, to make this the best Canadian Conference for Nature ever! Our next meeting will be held on November 15, 1977 (8:30 p.m.) at the Research Station, and everyone is welcome to attend.

Winston Johnston

Rosemary Curley

Chairmen, Canadian Conference for Nature Committee

Ragweed on P.E.I.

During the October N.H.S. meeting Bruce MacLaren gave a very interesting lecture on the occurrence and status of Ragweed on P.E.I. Since 1971, Bruce has been waging a one-man war against Ragweed on P.E.I. He showed samples of the two species which occur here: Common Ragweed Ambrosia artemisiifolia and Giant Ragweed Ambrosia trifida. Mr. MacLaren stated that very few Islanders recognize these plants, and this is probably

due to the fact that the flowers are not showy, but rather, small, greenish and inconspicuous. Ragweed is not a native plant to P.E.I.

It was introduced to P.E.I. rather recently, the seeds being accidentally brought in with scratch grain imported from western Canada. Ragweed does well today in waste places. It is an annual and hence reproduces solely by seeds. It bears huge quantities of pollen so light and fine that it can rise a hundred feet in the air and travel several miles

from the plant source. It is the pollen which causes hay—fever in allergic persons.