118 CORRESPONDENCE. 



The root of Beta is anomalous in some respects, as are many 

 others, and for a detailed account of its special features I refer 

 your readers to De Bary's " Comparative Anatomy of the 

 Phanerogams and Ferns." 



Yours faithfully, 



H. W. S. Worsley-Benison. 



[ To the Editor of " The Journal of Microscopy and Natural Science "\ 



Dear Sir, — 



Kindly allow me space for a suggestion, which, if carried 

 out, would be, I think, of great service to the members of our 

 Postal Microscopical Society. ^Ve are even more isolated than 

 many other societies, but not less able and willing to help one 

 another, and a means of easily and quickly obtaining assistance of 

 our fellow-members would add much to the pleasure and success 

 of our work. 



To obtain this without restricting or interfering with individual 

 tastes and pursuits, I propose that " circles " should be formed 

 among our members for work either of a general or of a specific 

 character; such as, for example, miscellaneous mounting, photo- 

 micrography, adulteration of food, pond-life, study of algse, 

 diatoms, desmids, mounting of whole insects, or any other subject 

 taken up as a pleasure for leisure time or for more serious and 

 scientific investigation. 



We should require, first, a method of bringing into communi- 

 cation members pursuing the same or kindred branches of micro- 

 scopical work ; secondly, a method of electing a Correspondent 

 and homing some few rules for the greater convenience of all ; 

 thirdly, a means of easy and frequent communication between 

 members of each circle and between the different circles when 

 advantageous; and fourthly, a scheme by which the results 

 should be made useful and interesting to all the members of the 

 Society. This could all be done by the following regulations : — 



(i) Let members of the Postal Microscopical Society seeking 

 to form or join such " circles " send a letter to our excellent 

 Secretary, giving their names and stating the subjects chosen. 

 Let each enclose six stamps for a " common fund " for the working 

 of each circle, if formed, or to be returned if the circle is not 

 formed. The Secretary would classify the names of applicants, 

 and when sufficient names were sent in to form one or more 

 circles — say, eight members in each — he would enter the names 

 in a " pass-book." This he would send to the member first on 

 the list, who would be " temporary correspondent." The common 

 fund would also be sent to the same. 



