1887. | BOTANICAL GAZETTE. 43 
EDITORIAL. 
IN THE D2cember number of the — Naturalist (p. 1075), 
occurs the following, portions of which we italicize: “The species of 
ree moss, Ursea ba , gr cg stoa pears length on the south shore 
of Lake Superior. * * The moss trails from the limbs a la the para- 
sitic Spanish moss of the ae: This item of “scientific news” occurs 
in the department under that name edited by Wm. Hosea Ballou. Just 
why there should be such a department in addition to the others edited 
by specialists, and embracing almost all branches of natural history, we 
not see. e editor of this department can not be a epeeaea, and 
is therefore cadet liable to tg discredit upon the Naturalist’s good 
name, by the insertion of items like the above, which savors of the style 
of the daily newspaper. Had this oe come under the eyes of the editor 
of the department of botany, Dr. Bessey, it would of course have appeared 
in acorrectform. We insite ag suggest to the editors of the Naturalist 
that they have the department of “scientific news” edited by the various 
on He on eae staff, oa not left to the tender mercies of any speci 
news gathe 
T MAY aioe be too late, at least for its own sake, for the GAZETTE to 
express its opinion on the “Hatch bill,” which is pending before Con- 
gress. The bill provides for the establishment of agricultural experiment 
stations in connection with the agricultural colleges established under 
the act of 1862 in the various states and territories, or hereafter estab- 
lished under that act. The trustees of these colleges have entire charge 
of such stations, and are required to appoint a director and necessary 
assistants : 
“Tt shall be the object and duty of said experiment stations to eh original 
rehes or verify experiments on the physiology of plants and anima diseases to 
which they are severally subject, with the remedies for the same; the saat composi- 
tion of manures, natural or ne oe Sipe designed to test their comparative 
ue 
and 
he sreswat ne of food for domestic animals ; 
po tifie and economic i ceaees involved in the ep saye of butter and cheese ; and 
such other researches or exper ee huey rdiveoil on the agricultural industry of the 
United Sta tates as may in each case be med adv sae, chest ay regard to the varyi 
conditions and needs of the Basan pe and te 
In order to secure uniformity of oe oa results these stations 
are to receive advice and assistance from the core a of Agricul- 
ture (though not under his control in any way), and are to report their 
work annually, in addition to issuing quarterly dinette of progress. 
For car rying ~ arg provisions of this act, $15, 000 annually i is appropri- 
ated to each station. 
