i8: 



NA TURE 



[August 4, 1923 



plant-diseases of the " virus " type, and (2) the 

 efficiency or otherwise, of controlling the spread of 

 insect and fungus pests from one country to another 

 by means of a phytopathological service. 



Discussions on the latter concerned chiefly plant 

 import regulations and quarantines, the point of view 

 of the exporting country being ably expounded by 

 Mr. van Poeteren, who is director of the Netherlands 

 Phytopathological Service. The controversial and 

 difticult nature of this subject is well known, and it is 

 satisfactory to record that the following resolution 

 was approved : 



" The representatives of all nations assembled at 

 the International Phytopathological Conference at 

 Wageningen, June 25-30, 1923, desire to place them- 

 selves on record as in full agreement with the essen- 

 tials of international trade and commerce in living 

 plants and plant-products, namely, reasonable free- 

 dom from all insect-pests and plant-diseases of all 

 kind of materials imported into or exported from any 

 country." 



It should also be mentioned that so greatly im- 

 pressed were members with the results of the Con- 

 ference in bringing about international sympathy and 

 co-operation as to the control of diseases and pests, 

 that it was considered imperative that similar con- 

 ferences under the same title should be held in 

 future, and a small committee, under the chair- 

 manship of Prof. Quanjer, with Mr. Schoevers as 

 secretary, was appointed to undertake provisionally 

 the duties of arranging for the next conference 

 and of dealing with the various resolutions which 

 had been passed. 



This brief summary would be incomplete if some 

 reference were not made to the hospitality and kind- 

 ness experienced. Special mention must also be 

 made of the admirable manner in which Prof. Quanjer 

 carried out his duties as president, and the debt 

 members owe him for rendering the discu.ssions clear 

 to all by rapid translation. As secretary, Mr. 

 Schoevers was untiring, working literallv nit'ht and 

 day for the good of the Conference. 



Sir William Thiselton-Dyer. 

 Tribute from British Botanists. 



C\^ July 28 Sir William Thiselton-Dyer attained his 

 eightieth birthday and was the recipient of the 

 subjoined letter from botanists throughout the 

 country. Sir William's work as assistant director 

 of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, under Sir 

 Joseph Hooker, and then as director for a memorable 

 period of twenty years, is so well known that it is 

 not necessary to refer to the many important things 

 he did during his term of office. The present condi- 

 tion of the Gardens, and the prestige of Kew all 

 over the world, are sufificient testimony to his ability 

 and prescience. We beg to extend to Sir William 

 in his retirement our congratulations and best wishes 

 that he may long continue to enjoy his health and 

 carry on his botanical activities. 



Dear Sir William, 



The occasion of your eightieth birthday 

 affords us the opportunity of which we gladly avail 

 ourselves, not only of offering you our congratulations 

 upon having attained so venerable an age, but also 

 of assuring you of our continued regard and esteem. 

 In doing so we who sign this letter do but acknowledge 

 our indebtedness to you for the inspiration and 

 guidance which we, both as teachers and researchers, 

 have derived directly or indirectly from your own 

 early work as a professor of botany. We regard 

 that work, and more especially the courses of practical 

 instruction conducted by you at South Kensington 

 in the years 1875 and 1876, as having inaugurated 

 the renaissance of the study of the structure and 

 functions of plants which had been so brilliantly 

 carried on by British botanists in earlier times. It 

 must, we feel sure, afford you great and justifiable 

 satisfaction to contemplate the marvellous develop- 

 ment of such studies in this country during the years 

 that have passed since you quickened them into new 

 life. 



The professorial career on which you had embarked 

 so brilliantly was unfortunately, as it may have 

 seemed at the time, brought, to a close by your 

 appointment to the assistant directorship of Kew in 

 1875 and your subsequent appointment as director 



NO. 2805, VOL. 112] 



ten years later. The work that you were enabled 

 to carry out at Kew has been of such national import- 

 ance, that, however much we may regret the loss 

 of the stimulating influence you would undoubtedly 

 have exerted as a professor, we all realise the great 

 and lasting services you have rendered to botany, 

 not only from the purely scientific point of view, but 

 also in relation to the development and encourage- 

 ment of botanical enterprise throughout the British 

 Empire. 



Another notable result of the interest you inspired 

 was the successful launching of the Annals of Botany, 

 which has come to be one of the leading botanical 

 periodicals of the world. We do not forget that it 

 was your enthusiasm that turned the scale when the 

 question of " to be or not to be " hung in the balance. 

 The Annals is a lasting monument to your courage 

 and prescience. 



It would need a lengthy document were we to 

 attempt to set out in detail the value of your many 

 efforts for the promotion of our science, but in con- 

 clusion we feel we must refer to the noble work you 

 did in saving the old Chelsea Physic Garden from 

 destruction. Thanks to you, Lon3on has now a 

 botanic garden where students and teachers can 

 study the structure and functions of plants and 

 pursue those studies which you did so much to 

 promote. 



With our very kind regards and good wishes. 

 Believe us to be, deax Sir William, 



Yours ver>' truly, 



D. H. Scott 

 S. H. Vines 

 F. O. Bower 

 Balfour 

 H. T. Brown 

 D. Prain 

 F. Darwin 

 H. H. Dixon 

 A. C. Seward 

 J. B. Farmer 



F. Keeble 

 A. B. Rendle 

 A. Shipley 

 H. Wager 

 F. F. Blackman 

 V. H. Blackman 

 F. W. Oliver 

 A. G. Tansley 

 F. E. Weiss 

 A. W. Hill 



and all the leading botanists in 

 Great Britain and Ireland. 



