466 The Botanical Gazette. [October, 
THE Two Days’ break of Saturday and Sunday, which has hereto- 
fore occurred, has always been detrimental. The present year the 
reading of papers began on Friday morning, and the program for this 
day was fully carried out as printed on the daily announcement, with 
a good audience present. When Monday morning arrived it was 
found that many of the members had not returned to Springfield after 
the excursions of Saturday, and the daily program was but partially 
carried out, with a very small audience present, and the continuance 
of the sessions for Tuesday and Wednesday was abandoned. It seems 
highly probable that such a collapse of the program will be out of the 
question with the change to uninterrupted sessions proposed for next 
year. 
IssuING a printed program in advance of the meeting is the most 
important measure for increasing the interest and making the matters 
presented thoroughly available to the members in attendance that has 
yet been tried. If well carried out, it will be possible to know be- 
forehand what subjects are to come up that may interest one, and at 
what time they can be heard. This arrangement can not fail to add 
great attractiveness to the meeting, and it is much to be desired that 
members lend their hearty cooperation to the efforts of the officers in 
securing a good program. 
SOME woRDs might be said about the general usefulness of the As- 
sociation. So far as the botanists are concerned, they owe much of 
their present prestige, both at home and abroad, and of their affilia- 
tions as a representative national body, to the opportunities created 
by the Association. The possibilities for gaining additional advan- 
tages through the same medium are by no means exhausted. The 
value of the Association to the individuals who attend its meetings 
does not admit of a doubt, in the majority of instances, and increases 
greatly with the increase in attendance. 
