l8 9iJ Editorial. 209 



These observations are confirmed by those of Mr. A. J. Pieters, who 

 obtained results from sowings of spores upon leaves of a growing plant. 

 No cases of penetration through the walls of epidermal cells, as is said 

 by De Bary 1 to be the rule for this species, were observed. — W. H. 

 Rush, Botanical Laboratory, University of Michigan. 



EDITORIAL 



Botany is making a healthy and vigorous growth in the United 

 States. Never before have there been so many teachers, so many in- 

 vestigators, or so many collectors advancing the interests of the science 

 and making its merits known to the public, as at the present time. 

 Probably no field of the science is now wholly without workers, a state- 

 ment that could not have been made a few years ago; and what is 

 really more to the purpose, a constantly increasing proportion of the 

 work accomplished has a permanent value and attains a rank of com- 

 manding importance. 



The organization of the Botanical club of the A. A. A. S., in 1883, 

 gave a decided impetus to American botany, and especially effected 

 an improvement in the character of the investigations undertaken by 

 individual workers. The movement set on foot last year in the same 

 association, by which a prearranged series of papers covering certain 

 portions of the higher grounds of the science is presented each year, 

 must also prove valuable. These and other means for raising the 

 standard of work for the individual, and for strengthening the reputa- 

 tion of the science among its friends, have already shown good results 

 and justified the efforts put forth. 



So much has already been accomplished that even greater thing- 

 may be confidently looked for in the future. The coming meetm at 

 Washington, which promises to have a larger attendance of botanist- 

 than ever before, should bring forth some new plans for general or 

 co-operative work. Things may be accomplished by the united inter- 

 est and effort of the many that would be difficult or impossible for 

 single workers. So plain a truth needs no illustration, but its appre- 

 ciation in solving specific problems may require considerable enforce- 



ment 



A matter to be borne in mind for the coming meeting is the unique 

 opportunity afforded by the approaching Wortd's Fair to secure some 

 benefits for botany. A few Europea n visitors of eminenre may cer- 



! Ann. d. Sc. Nat. Bot. ser. 4. xx. 



