237 



nean parts of plants. Professor Beal spoke of the importance of 

 the root-stocks of grasses as diagnostic characters, and remarked 

 on their poor representation In herbaria. 



Professor Arthur described several pieces of apparatus for the 

 investigation of phenomena of vegetable physiology, illustrated 

 by drawings. The subject was discussed by Professor McBi'ide, 

 Mr. W. H. Seaman, Professor Ressey and Professor Spaulding. 



Mr. Coville reported on the progress of the Botanical Ex- 

 change Club under the direction of the Division of Botany of the 

 United States Department of Agriculture, stating that some five 

 thousand specimens are now In hand. 



Professor Claypole read a paper on '* Plant Colonists at Akron, 

 Ohio," alluding to Coniinn macnlatiiDi^ Tragopogon porrifoliuSy 

 Artemisia vulgaris and Cnicus arvcnsis^ both sterile and fertile 

 plants of the latter being found, and Lacttica Scariola. Professor 

 Burrill remarked on the scarcity of fertile plants of Cnicus arvcn- 

 sis in Illinois, and Dr. Britton stated that they were also rare in 

 New Jersey and Southern New York. Professor Arthur re- 

 ported that Dysodia chrysanthcinoidcs and Tva xaiithiifolia were 

 steadily migrating eastward along the railroads. Dr. Britton re- 

 ported Leontodon hii^tusdi?* recently found at several points In New 

 Jersey and New York, and Crcpis piilchra Introduced along the 

 railroad at Culpepper, Virginia. Both of these European species 

 demand admission Into our text-books of systematic botany. Mr. 

 Blatchley stated that Solanum rostration had been found In In- 

 diana, an immigrant from tlie southwest. Fugitive specimens of 

 the latter have also been picked up In New York and New Jersey. 



Ill the afternoon the club enjoyed an excursion tendered by 

 the Local Committee of Arrangements, to a scries of ravines 

 known as the " Shades of Death/' situated about fifty miles from 

 Indianapolis, and reached by the I., D. & W. R. R., which gener- 

 ously provided a special train for the transportation of the mem- 

 bers. Despite the somewhat forbidding name of the locality it 

 proved to be of much botanical interest, and a delightful trip was 

 experienced. At an informal meeting on the grounds, the 

 President appointed Professors Bastin, Wilson and Bessey a com- 

 mittee to draw suitable resolutions of thanks to the local commit- 

 tee and the superintendent of the J., D. and W. K- R. 



