The Microscope. 207 



EDITORIAL NOTES. 



Personal Notes at Cleveland. — Some of us have never had 

 the privilege of meeting the older representatives of our Ameri- 

 can work until within a very few years. Hence it is that at this 

 late date we call attention to one whose charming manners cap- 

 tivate all the younger members. Our President,Prof. H. L. Smith, 

 holds our attention not only by his recognized authority on mic- 

 roscopical matters, but also by his clear and concise way of put- 

 ting things. May he meet with us for many years to come. 



Prof. T. J. Burrill is a man about 45 years of age, and ap- 

 parently in the best of health. For some years, Prof. Burrill 

 was principal of the city schools at Urbana, 111. In 1867, he 

 was the botanist on Major Powell's first Rocky Mountain ex- 

 ploring expedition. In 1868, he was appointed Professor of 

 Botany in the University of Illinois, which position he still 

 holds. Prof. Burrill has paid special attention to cryptogamic 

 botany, especially the fungi. He has published numerous papers 

 on various fungi, in scientific periodicals and in transactions of 

 societies. In 1880, he proved by inoculations that the disease 

 called " pear blight" and the blight of apples is due to bacteria 

 — the first plant disease known to be caused by these organ- 

 isms. In 1883, he issued a pamphlet describing all known 

 species of bacteria, several new by the author. This year he 

 has issued a work of 115 pages on the parasitic fungi of Illinois. 

 Prof. Burrill is also Vice-president of Section F, of the A. A. 

 A. S. and Vice-president of the University of Illinois. 



Dr. James, of St. Louis, was in direct contrast to our Scien- 

 tific Puzzle at Washington, "who," says The National Druggist, 

 " was conspicuous by his absence." The doctor makes himself 

 known and felt wherever he goes. 



Mr. Bulloch, of Chicago, generally knows what he goes af- 

 ter, hence the surprise when he asked for some " kerosene," and 

 was told there was none in the city. The store-keepers had " il- 

 luminating oil," "Standard oil," etc., but not one knew what 

 " kerosene " was. 



Dr. H. J. Detmers keeps a sharp lookout for weak points 



