384 



THE GARDENER'S MONTHLY 



[December, 



penetrating the structure as they grow, just as a 

 mistletoe or other parasitic plant penetrates the 

 tissue as it grows. From some of the remarks 

 of Mr. Halsted it may be surmised that this is 

 his view, though he remarks that the early 

 growth of the spores, from their small size, has 

 never been observed in plant tissues. But we 

 very often learn from circumstantial evidence, 

 as well as from direct observation of the facts > 

 and, if we may say that it is improbable that a 

 spore could be taken into the tissue through the 

 roots, and travel through the structure from 



cell to cell, as moisture does, by endosmose 

 action, so also may we say, from observations 

 recorded in this paper, that it seems improbable 

 in many cases that the spores should have 

 reached their germinating points from an exter- 

 nal starting place on the surface of the inflor- 

 escence. 



The intelligent and careful reader of this 

 excellent paper will feel that he has profited 

 largely by the perusal, but still with the en- 

 couragement which the explorer loves to enjoy, 

 that there is yet much to learn. 



Horticultural Societies. 



EDITORIAL NOTES. 



Transactions of Societies. — There seems a 

 great want of intelligent reporting in some of 

 the published proceedings of societies. In a 

 large number of cases notices of the discussions 

 might be left out entirely for all the good they 

 are. In many instances it is apparent, from the 

 contents, that the speakers never said what is 

 reported of them, or that the most important 

 has been left out. Before us is one of these 

 reports. Mr. A. is asked if he " will favor the 

 meeting with his experience on the strawberry 

 grub?" Mr. A. is made to reply that he "has 

 had considerable experience with the strawberry 

 grub. Has also used coal ashes to a consider- 

 able extent on his strawberry beds." 



Of what possible use is a report like this ? And 

 yet it is not much below the average of much 

 that is given us. 



Association of Nurserymen and Florists.— 

 Mons. Charles Joly, in a paper read before the 

 " Societe Nationale d' Horticulture," of France, 

 gives praise to America for instituting such a 

 society, embracing, as he seems surprised to 

 know, 250 members, and believes it would be an 

 excellent idea for France to adopt. 



Convention of Horticulturists in Brussels, 

 Belgium. — President VanGeert writes: "In order 

 to give to the representatives of horticultural 

 industry of all countries, the occasion to extend 

 mutually their commercial relations and discuss 



their common interests, an international meet- 

 ing of horticulturists will take place at Ghent in 

 April, 1883. The programme will be published 

 in due time. 



" As this meeting will coincide with the great 

 quinquennial international flower show, organ- 

 ized by the Royal Agricultural and Botanical 

 Society, interesting entertainments will be of- 

 fered to the congress members." 



The Imperial Society of Horticulture of 

 Russia.— There will be an international conven- 

 tion of botanists and horticulturists at St. Peters- 

 burg, to celebrate the first quarter century of its 

 existence, to extend from the 5th to the 16th 

 (17th to 28th, we believe, of our calendar) of 

 May, 1883. The Grand Duke Nicholas has taken 

 the affair under his patronage. Dr. Regel asks 

 us to invite the presence of such American hor- 

 ticulturists and botanists as can make it conve- 

 nient to attend personally, or to send papers for 

 the convention or specimens for exhibition, 

 where personal attendance is not possible. 

 French will be the official language of the con- 

 gress, but papers or correspondence may be in 

 the writers' native language, where French is 

 unknown to them. Twenty to thirty minutes 

 will be the limit accorded to each paper. 



Horticultural Societies in the Old World. 

 — Under the stimulus of high premiums, careful 

 judging, and a wide publication of the awards, 

 European societies are popular. At a late exhi- 

 bition at Edinburg there were 2,200 entries, and 

 $5,000 were distributed in premiums. 



