LINNEAN SOCIETY OF LONDON. 1$ 



Mr. Blow, GloeosipJionia by Mr. Brebner, Karyokinesis in Scj/- 

 phium by Mr. J. E, S. Moore, and many others. Several Exhibits 

 differ in no respect from Papers except in length : this is hardly 

 a reason for overlooking them, as they sometimes contain as 

 much matter as some lengthy papers. But they are reported 

 very shortly indeed ; and those Members who are not fortunate 

 enough to attend the Evening Meetings can get no sufficient idea 

 from these short reports. But I must not suggest more extended 

 publications. 



The quantity of our publications — especially, for the reasons 

 already explained, of the Botanic publications — is now growing 

 fast. Ton can best appreciate this from the statement that the 

 papers now in hand, i. e. on the Assistant-Secretary's table for 

 publication, are estimated to cost £1300 — largely Botany, — our 

 average expenditure on publications having been, during the last 

 seven years, £990. I believe that only those who have themselves 

 been editors can really appreciate the amount of editorial labour 

 involved by these publications upon the Secretaries and on the 

 Assistant-Secretary. Several Members of this Society have sug- 

 gested that the quantity of publication might be lessened — that 

 authors might be compelled to adopt a more compressed style, 

 or if they did not, that the Society's Officers might compress 

 their work for them. One year's experience has convinced me 

 that nothing can be done to effect any appreciable condensation 

 in this way. 



The hands of the editorial officers are practically tied by the 

 system of referring papers. The Council receives back, from 

 a carefully selected referee, his report recommending that the 

 paper should be printed as it stands. The Secretary who has 

 to edit the paper can hardly, after this, alter or curtail the 

 paper whatever his private opinion may be. Descriptions of 

 new species are extended by the new process of epharmosis to 

 cover a page or more ; the editing Secretary may grudge the 

 space, but he knows that there are now many botanists who 

 regard the anatomical as the most important part of the 

 description. 



Finally, if every curtailment possible could be carried out, 

 without affronting the authors, I do not think it would lessen our 

 printed matter more than 8 per cent. ; nor would it appreciably 

 lessen the difficulties of publication, which arise really from the 

 extended interest now taken in science. 



As regards the editorial labour, the Council is disposed to aid 

 their Botanic Secretary by giving him an assistant. But then 

 remains to be met the cost of the Publications. You have just 

 heard from the Treasurer that, for the first time in his long term 

 of office, he has been obliged to sell out Stock. I do not regard 

 the present sale as serious, though it is a sign of stress ; and 

 the quantity of papers now on hand must be considered 

 with it. 



