306 botanical gazette. [ December, 



The following botanists were present: J. C. Arthur, W 



J. Beal, C. E. Bessey, T. J 



W 



Mavnard, Wm. Saunders, 



W 



B. I). Halsted. 



The Washington meeting of the Association of A. A. C. 

 & E. S. was held on November 12-15, and several botanists 

 were in attendance. Nothing of a botanical nature was pro- 

 vided for in the printed program of the convention, and there 

 were objections raised as to the desirability of the association 

 dividing into sections for special work, and it was not until 

 near the close of the sessions that any provision was made for 

 the holding of meetings of specialists. It was finally adopted 

 that the association shall be divided into at least five commit- 

 tees as follows: Agriculture, Botany, Chemistry, Entomol- 

 ogy and Horticulture. Previous to this, however, the botan- 

 ists had held two meetings, making three in all. Several or 

 the older botanists of the experiment stations, as, for example, 

 the three B's, were unavoidably absent, the meeting coming 

 at an unusually busy time of year. 



Dr. Geo. Vasey was called to the chair and presided over 



the first two sessions of the botanists. After some routine 



work, the chairman presented a valuable paper upon the 



growth and future hopes of the Division of Botany of the U. 



S. Department of Agriculture. From a very small begin- 

 ning, less than 



government serv 



until now it is recognized as a great botanical center in our 

 country, and especially so by the botanists of the experiment 

 stations. Dr. Vasey called attention to the great need ot 

 works upon botany suitable to the territories and newer states, 

 and stated that a small increase of his force would render it 

 possible to supply the demand— a demand that is not likely 

 to be met by private enterprise for a long time to come. A 

 generous invitation was extended to the station botanists to 

 avail themselves of the large opportunities for study offered 

 by the Division of Botany. 



After an interesting discussion upon topics suggested by 

 Dr. Vasey's paper a committee was appointed to consider 

 the relationship that exists between the Division of Botam 



and the station botanists, which committee drew up the fol- 

 lowing : 



';The station botanists desire to express their hearty ap- 

 preciation of the generous support afforded the Botanical 



a quarter of a century ago, this division of the 

 rvice has increased in value and efficiency 



