1886.] BOTANICAL GAZETTE. 249 
next meeting they may have something of interest to present which will be a 
real contribution to science. The thing to be criticized in many of our botan- 
ists is the aimlessness of their work. One year is much like another, and con- 
sists in the collection of specimens, the finding of new stations, or the observa- 
tion of a few unimportant deviations from published descriptions. It is true 
that the days of announcing albinos is past, but th ght to b re decided 
settling down to some special work. On the other hand, the mistake should 
not be made of selecting some subject far too difficult, which is beyond the 
range of the worker both in experience and material, The commonest ma-_ 
terials and the easiest subjects are the best to work, for they imply a sufficiency 
of ability and material. The young collegian thinks of stopping nothing short 
of reorganizing the universe, and the ambitious young botanist is something 
like him. The work that is nearest at hand is the work to be done, and no 
come an original observer and not simply lead a tread-mill existence. All this 
is not by way of saying that the botanists of this country are not at work, for 
there is an abundance of good work being done, but simply to stimulate the 
many who are not at work as they should be. 
SomME MENTION is made elsewhere in this issue of the present status of bot- 
any in the Department of Agriculture at Washington. It is evident there has 
been expansion, which has resulted in leaving the original botanical division 
as strong as before, and in some respects stronger, while there has been a dis- 
tinct gain in establishing the study of plant diseases as a separate and clearly 
gnized portion of the Department. It remains to be seen if this good be- 
ginning can be maintained, and made the fulcrum for higher and broader 
work, An institution which depends upon annual appropriations for its in- 
The committee of the A. 
disbanded, and botanists 
should consequently feel that such responsibility as may exist lies with them 
individually. 
E TIME the August number should have been prepared for press the 
editors were taking their yacation—the senior editor with a party in Indiana, 
one of the others in the mountains of West V irginia, and the third on the 
shores of Vermilion lake, in Northern Minnesota. If any short-comings are 
observed in that number our subscribers will have no difficulty in surmising 
the cause. 
