NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY OF PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND P.O. BOX 2346, CHARLOTTETOWN ClA 8C1

MEETINGS are held on the first Tuesday of the month (except June, July, August and September) at 8:00 p.m. at the Farm Centre on University Ave- nue, Charlottetown. Members and non-members are welcome.

MEMBERSHIP is open to anyone interested in the natural history of Prince Edward Island. Membership is available at any meeting or by contacting Margaret Mallett, 53 Fitzroy St., Charlottetown, P.E.I. ClA 1R4 (phone 894-9595). Annual rates are as follows: regular - $4; student — $2; family - $5. Renewals.are due in early January.

1988 EXECUTIVE: President . . . . . . . . . . . ..Susan Stephenson, Winsloe 368—2789 Vice-President . . . . . . . . . . . ..Dan McAskill, Donagh 569-4351 Past—President.....Rosemary Curley, Summerville 838—4309 Sec/Treasurer...Margaret Mallett, Charlottetown 894—9595 Recording Sec....Teresa Hughes, Websters Corner 676-2026 Directors . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..Geoff Hogan, Springvale 368-1224

. . . . . .......Ruth Richman, Baldwin Road 838—2678

NEWSLETTERS are published bi-monthly. Articles, notes, reports, drawings, etc. are welcomed from members and non-members. If you have seen anything unusual, please share it with us. It is important to have your observa— tions recorded so that others may learn from them. "Today's notations become tomorrow's history". All contributions should be sent to:

Gary Schneider,

RR#6,

Cardigan, P.E.I. COA 1G0

Phone: 838—2678

The Natural History Society gratefully acknowledges financial assistance from the Department of Transportation and Public Works which enables the newsletters to be distributed to schools and libraries and to members.

The Natural History Society of P.E.I. is a member organization of the Can- adian Nature Federation. The Society is a registered, non-profit organi- zation. Editors of other newsletters are welcome to reprint articles from

the Island Naturalist (except when copyrighted) but acknowledgement would be appreciated.

This month's covtr'

The American Elm (Ulmus americana) was a favourite shade tree across Canada and the United States before the Dutch Elm disease attacked it, greatly reducing its number. The perfect flowers come in loose clusters before the leaves, and the fruit is small with a wing surrounding the seed. Because the wood is strong and resists pressure it is used for barrel staves, chopping bowls and boxes. In this issue, Ken Mayhew of the provincial Department of Energy and Forestry, discusses the threat of Dutch Elm disease to our elms in urban and rural areas.

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