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MISCELLANEOUS NOTES AND NEWS. 



The formal organization of tlie Botanical Society of 

 America was completed at Brooklyn, N. Y., August 15, 1894, 

 by the adoption of a constitution and the election of officers. 

 The constitution limits active membership to American 

 botanists "engaged in research, who have published works of 

 recognized merit." Candidates for such membership must 

 be recommended by three members of the Society not mem- 

 bers of the council. The council is composed of the officers 

 of the Society, of the last past President and of two members 

 elected by the Society. The officers are as follows: President, 

 Wm. Trelease; Vice-President, N. L. Britton; Treasurer, 

 John-Donnell Smith; Secretary, Chas. E. Barnes; elective 

 members of council, C. S. Sargent and E. L. Greene. 



A REPORT on " The Uncultivated Bast Fibres " is one of 

 the latest contributions from the U. S. Department of Agri- 

 culture. Various native species such as Seshania macro- 



bisciis moscheutos, Urena lohata, Asclepias incar- 

 naia have been investigated. The history of cultivation of 

 the plants and of experiments with the fibres is considered in 

 connection with related foreign species of commercial value. 



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