326 BOTANICAL GAZETTE. 
In the di ion of the subject by the convention Dr. Phares, of — 
ee a seoolaistine a petition Congress to fully equip the Department pe 
more effective investigation of the fungous diseases of plants. A resolution 
was (wade ails offered to have the seeds of the department subjected to the 
critical inspection of an expert on their quality, purity and vitality, and _ 
Alvord, of New York, deemed it best to have the two resolutions united, whic 
was done. We think, this, however, an unfortunate disposition of the matter, 
but yet hope something may be accomplished. 
What is now sean ie it appea ary to us, is a well equipped laboratory 
with a corps of trained epeichnltansy who shall also be permitted to study the 
diseases in those parts of the country which offer the most favorable peace" 
for their investigation in the field, To make the work entirely successfu - 
shoul constitute a separate division or bureau of the Department on hae equa 
footing with that of botany, entomology, animal diseases, etc., and might very 
appropriately be called the bureau of plant diseases. The co-operation of the ag- 
ricultural colleges, experiment stations and private investigators could be se 
cured, and great scientific and economic service be rendered the country.— EDs. 
EDITORIAL NOTES. 
Tae Untversiry or NesraskKa has established a botanic garden. 
Dr. Kiery’s work on micro-organisms has been translated into F rench. 
“. work of 300 pages has just been published in Berlin on J. J. Rousseav 
as a botanist. 
Pror. V. M. aera has been detained from going abroad to study by the 
illness of his w ar 
Pror. J. ‘i Contons is engaged during the summer on geodetic wor 
the southern part of the state, near New Alban : 
Dr. O. J. OLsEN has received a grant of $250 from the Norwegian gover? 
ment with which to continue his studies on native edible mushrooms. ; 
THE VACANT PAGE of the last number was due to a misunderstand 
the printers. The Gazerre can ill afford to leave blank any of its muc ch 
space. 
A SMUT on cultivated violets, Urocystis Viole, attacking the i ” 
flower stems, has made its appearance in France, as we learn from the 
Mycologique, and has proved very destructive. wis 
Pror, CHartes R. Barwes, of Purdue University, has been oo 
year’s leave of absence, and will spend the time at the Botanic Garden, Cam 
bridge, Mass., in the prosecution of some special researches pro- 
Dr. Warmine, of the University of Stockholm, has scnee a es ~~ 
fessor of botany in the University and director of the botanic gar wae 
penhagen, Denmark, and will begin his labors on November 1. 
