222 BOTANICAL GAZETTE. [Sept., 
American botany in the last few years, and Mr. Arthur summar- 
ized this as starting with the collecting and classifying of flower- 
ing plants, afterwards ‘embracing the lower orders of plants, 
reaching at the present time the stage when histology and 
morphology are receiving marked attention, with some notice 
given to physiology. “The chemistry of plants,” he added, “is 
now investigated almost entirely by the chemists. If this paper 
does something to call attention to the fact that the chemistry of 
plants should be studied by botanists as well as by chemists, it 
9 
Beal mentioned the fact, as a partial explanation, that many 
grasses habitually twist their leaves and present,the lower sur- 
face to the sky. Prof. Pillsbury suggested a possible connection 
hetween the distribution of the hygroscopic cells and the folding 
of the leaf before vernation. 
r. Farlow’s paper was supplemented by numerous specimens 
of the different species of fungi that the paper dwelt upon, and 
some of the results of the cultures which furnished the principal 
data. Prof. Burrill spoke of the value of the paper as a basis 
of systematic study, and desired to learn the methods of con- 
ducting the experiments. Upon being assured that the details 
will shortly be published, he added that the results are of much 
economic importance. Upon the prairies of Illinois these fungi 
are doing serious harm. He had received a letter from an Or- 
chardist since coming to the meeting, in which he complains 
earnestly of acres of orchard being destroyed as the result of 
planting a cedar hedge around it. 
Several other papers, which are in some measure botanical, 
should be spoken of in this connection. They are the following: 
J. 8. Newberry, On the cretaceous flora of North America. 
E. W. Claypole, On some carboniferous wood from Ohio. 
_ B. E. Fernow, Biology of timber trees with special reference 
to the requirements of forestry. 
E. Lewis Sturtevant, Atavism the result of cross breeding let- 
tuce ; also A study in agricultural botany 
