EDITORIAL. 
THE SPRINGFIELD meeting of the American Association for the Ad- 
vancement of Science showed a marked decrease in the number of 
papers presented before it, and especially in the attendance. The 
proportional number of botanists was, however, somewhat larger than 
usual, although the actual number did not reach the point anticipated. 
During the last few years the botanical element at the annual meet- 
ings has been conspicuous both by reason of its numbers and its en- 
thusiasm. It has also usually been one of the leading sections in the 
number and interesting character of its papers. In these particulars 
the recent meeting showed a decided falling off. Only twenty-seven 
botanical papers were placed on the program and quite a number of 
these were not read, mostly because the authors did not remain in 
Springfield until the papers were called. Altogether the meeting did 
not come up to the standard of its predecessors. 
IT Is PERTINENT to enquire into the cause of so great a change. Is 
it due to a general decrease in botanical interest, to the lack of 
novelty which for awhile might have attracted members, to any inter- 
Tuption of good fellowship which may keep away a faction, to the es- 
tablishment of other societies drawing off the papers and attendance, 
to any want of suitable provision for social entertainment, to internal 
friction or inconvenient arrangement of the program, to the develop- 
ment of the science so that it no longer needs the stimulus of such a 
gathering, or to some still unmentioned cause? The matter was con- 
siderably discussed at Springfield, and much diversity of opinion 
Manifested. It was generally conceded that there was a variety of 
Causes, and that the conditions in the botanical section were not ma- 
terially different from those affecting the other sections of the Asso- 
Clation. Without entering upon these arguments, although some prof- 
itable things might doubtless be said, we may state that in our opinion 
the main difficulties have been met in the proposed arrangements for 
the meeting next year at Buffalo. Two prominent innovations are to 
tried: the meeting will begin on Monday and close on the follow- 
ing Saturday, giving Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday to 
the uninterrupted consideration of papers and other legitimate work 
of the society, and a provisional program will be issued by the officers 
of the section at least a month before the time of the meeting. Both 
of these changes are important. 
32—Vol. XX.—No. 10. 
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