128 The Botanical Gazette. (April, 
EDITORIAL. 
BorTANIsTs ARE a peaceable folk, so peaceable, we are almost inclined 
to add, as to be apathetic. They seem so averse to anything that has 
even the semblance of discussion that they will not even express an 
opinion lest it lead to controversy. If induction is worth anything we 
can substantiate this by adducing a host of facts on which it is based. 
OnE HAs only to look back over the file of the Gazerre to find thatin 
the past five years there have been suggested numerous questions and 
movements,some of them of great interest to botanists. These the G&x 
NEARLY TWO YEARS AGO the subject of a world’s congress of botan- 
ists was broached in these pages and we endeavored to find out what 
our readers thought of the project, its desirability and its feasibility. 
Several other editorials have appealed for the same information but 
up to date not a line has come to us touching this matter. The world 
congress auxiliary of the Columbian Exposition has now taken it up 
and proposes to have a botanical congress whether or no. The ideas 
of the management regarding this particular department are necessat 
ily very general and crude, but it is still quite possible for botanists? 
direct efforts into proper channels. Will they take enough interest? 
it todo it? The committee having the preliminary work In ¢ a 
will shortly issue an address containing a series of questions to = 
they desire categorical answers. If American botanists have not me 
eo § ; se +heir OD! 
enthuc 
thusias™ 
when asked, we can hardly anticipate that they would have en meat 
to 
enough to come to such a congress or aid in the entertainmen 
ae 
Bur Botanists have a further duty. If they do not approve be 7 ; 
istance, | 
to direct, it or to let it be known that this invitation if further ake 
does not come from them, and that it is only a part 0 the 8 bee? = 
commercial enterprise. The committee of botanists who eis” 
asked to assist in the arrangements see very many difficulties eo ee 
moved before a personal and cordial invitation can be ister 
Nests 
