1886. | BOTANICAL GAZETTE. 119 
number, devoted to the collection and preservation of plants, but it is found 
almost impossible to desciibe portfolios, presses, cabinets, etc., so as to be well 
understood, without taking too much space. Therefore, ss the coming meeting, 
“an evening will be set Na for an exhibition of the appliances of botanical 
work, such as portfolios, presses, the most effectual poison, the best mode of 
glueing, the quality, size and cost of genus covers and herbarium sheets, the 
best size and form of labels, the best form of cabinets for security of contents 
and ease of referring to them, etc., etc. As botanists will have in most cases 
their portfolios and presses with them, a comparison of these will be easy, and 
a discussion of the subject generally will result in much advantage to the fra- 
ternity, in shit he about uniformity of action and in saving of money and time. 
full account of what botanists may expect at Buffalo will be given in 
our July Pare 
E BOTANISTS of the country may well ask themselves if they take the 
matter deserves. We venture to say that barely a dozen botanists outside of 
Washington are aware that the “ Botanical Division” and “ Mycologic Section ” 
we in “get goes on the same as in the days viens satis was 
_ and learn what is required from the botanists themselves. This is forcibly 
citgis to mind by the bill which is now (April 20) before the House of Repre- 
ntatives, for the annual appropriation fer the work of the Department of © 
Agrinttre The Commissioner recommended for botany, including the study 
plant diseases, about one-third of the amount named for entomological work, 
or eonens of salaries one-fifth as much; while the bill as reported by the 
committee, and as it now stands (it may be modified before its final passage) 
gives one-ninth as much, or exclusive of salaries one-fiftieth—that is, admit- 
ting that one-half of the one thousand dollars allotted to the support of the 
“museum and herbarium ” will be pi for the latter. The urgent ogre 
for the investigation of plant diseases is ignored; although “ the J from 
Contagious diseases of animals is a mere yas atelle in poset aid Phone as a corres- 
pondent puts it, it is liberally ho og for as - shoul a be. seg enone science 
as a factor in the wealth and welfare o tes 
to gain for it the recognition it ment 
THe ApporntMeENT of Mr. Bernhard E. vagertihe as chief of the forestry di- 
Vision of dae eg eaeney of Agriculture seems to have been a move in the right 
direction. Mr. Fernow, who has had practical ae theoretical training as a 
forester, has already pe actively an attempt to enlist the help of botanists 
in the study of forest problems. He proposes, as far as possible, to assist those 
who are —— or will work in this line, “ and to publish and distribute in 
