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19. The Syracuse Botanical Club.— Sometime since, the Syra- 

 cuse Botanical Club conceived the idea of an Author's Party, whereby 

 the treasury of the association could be benefitted, and at the same 

 time those contributing to aid the association might com- 

 bine pleasure with business. Mrs. Rust threw open the doors of her 

 spacious mansion for the good cause, and invitations were extended 

 to those citizens who were expected to be present. The responses to 

 the invitations were very nvimerous, and the assemblage included 

 many of the more prominent citizens of Syracuse. At an early hour 

 the guests began to assemble, and a diversified, quaint and motley 

 appearance they made in their various character-costumes. They 

 were received by a. committee designated for the purpose and an- 

 nounced by their proper tickets. All sorts of characters were 

 represented. The amount realized was about ninety dollars, 

 which is to be used for purchasing microscopes, books, etc. for 

 the Club's work. During the last season, beginning with April, 

 the Chib made twenty-nine field excursions and realized there- 

 from twenty-two dollars, A club room has been rented, a her- 

 barium case purchased, and classes have been organized for the 

 study of structural botany, tmder insti'uction of th^ President, 

 The Club has undertaken the collection of all the lists of plants that 

 have been made by different observers, and intends in the course of 

 time to publish a complete flora of Onondaga County. The 

 officers for the present year are as follows: President, Mrs. S. M. 

 Rust; Vice-President, Mrs. H. S. Gifford; Treasurer, Mrs. A. D. 

 Fairbanks; Corresponding Secretary, Mrs. M. J. Myers; Record- 

 ing Secretary, Mrs. H, Rowling. 



r 



20. Proceedings of the Torrey Club. — The regular meeting of 



the Club was held at the School of Mines, Columbia College, Tues- 

 day evening, January nth, the President in the chair, and twenty-six 

 members and fourteen visitors present. 



After opening the meeting the President announced to the Club 

 the great loss that it had recently sustained in the death of its valued 

 member, Alphonso Wood, and, in a (gw brief remarks, paid a grace- 

 ful tribute to his memory. 



On motion, a committee of three was appointed to draft appro- 

 priate resolutions expressive of the esteem and respect in which Prof. 

 Wood was held by his fellow-members^ and extending to his family 

 the Club's deep sympathy. 



This being the annual meeting, officers for the present year were 

 balloted for with the following result: 



President, J. S, Newberry; Vice-President, A. Brown; Treas- 

 urer, W. H. Rudktn; Corresponding Secretary, B. Braman; Re- 

 cordmg Secretary, G. M. Wileer; Editor, W. H. Leggktt; Curator, 

 P. V. LeRoy. 



According to previous announcement, Mr. C. F. Cox read a very 

 instructive and interesting paper on a subject of which he has long 

 made a specialty — Plant Hairs — and which was well illustrated by 

 beautiful- microscopic preparations thrown upon a screen. The paper 

 was of such a nature that justice cannot be done it by a mere abstract 

 especially without illustrations). 



