292 BOTANICAL GAZETTE. 



V. Riley, Robert P. Bigelow, Jos. F. James, B. P. Colton, E. S. 

 Bastin, S. A. Forbes, F. A. Gulley, Ellen E. Smith, Leander 

 Stone, Mrs. Leander Stone, E. W. Claypole, W. R. Lazenby, W. 

 M. Canby, J. W. Chickering, Edw. Pennock, John M. Hol- 

 zinger, thirty in all, and from thirteen different States. A com- 

 mittee was appointed consisting of Profs. Coulter, Farlow and 

 Bessey to consider the subject of domestic and foreign postage 

 upon botanical specimens. This committee is instructed, by cor- 

 respondence or otherwise, to obtain information as to grievances, 

 and to send a remonstrance in the name of the association to the 

 proper authorities. They expect to be able to present a favorable 

 report at the Philadelphia meeting. 



At a second meeting of the Club, Prof. E. S. Bastin, of the 

 Chicago College of Pharmacy, read a paper entitled, " A fact 

 bearing upon the evolution of the genus Cypripedium,'' which 

 was followed by considerable discussion, chiefly upon teratologi- 

 cal matters, in the course of which Prof. Bessey took occasion to 

 express a very decided opinion about laying too much stress 

 upon monstrosities. Dr. W. G. Farlow also gave an exceedingly 

 interesting talk upon some of the common parasitic cryptogams 

 which are most convenient and useful for class work, and many 

 ideas were obtained which will blossom out in more than one 

 laboratory this fall and winter. 



At a third meeting of the Club, a committee was appointed to 

 provide for meetings and excursions at Philadelphia next sum- 

 mer, and, as this city is a perfect nest of botanists, and within 

 easy reach of many more, an outpouring of botanists is expected. 

 With the rich collections of the Academy of Sciences, the famous 

 ballast grounds, the New Jersey barrens, etc., there need be no 

 lack of profitable excursions. The committee to perfect all these 

 arrangements consists of Prof. J. C. Arthur, of Chicago, and 

 J. H. Redfield, Esq., of Philadelphia, who have power to ap- 

 point a third member. At this same meeting W. M. Canby, 

 Esq., was present, just returned from his northern boundary sur- 

 vey, where he was officially looking after grazing lands, but at 

 the same time keeping his eyes open botanically. He gave the 

 Club some account of the region traversed, and the characteristics 

 of the vegetation, calling attention particularly to the comming- 

 ling of Pacific coast and Rocky mountain forms as the mountains 

 approach the British boundary. 



Several small excursions were made, all of which resulted 

 very profitably, but owing to the impossibility of arranging any- 

 thing more than a few hours in advance, they were more slimly 



