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Po EDITORIAL, 
DURING THE PRESENT MONTH there are meeting in Buffalo three 
botanical organizations of national scope: the Botanical Club of the 
A. A. A. S., the Botanical Section of the A. A. A. S., and the Botanical 
Society of America. Each organization has its own peculiar field, and 
has been a natural outgrowth from the remarkable botanical activity of 
the last few years. The question has been raised frequently whether 
this may not be an unnecessary multiplication of botanical organiza- 
tions, and whether they may not overlap and interfere with each other. 
An examination of the original purpose of each makes it evident that 
no interference is contemplated. 
THe Boranicat Cius of the A. A. A. S. was organized when the 
botany of the Association was but a part of the Biological Section, and 
its double purpose was to bring the botanists together in a meeting of 
their own, and to provide a means for the informal presentation of 
botanical matters of interest and importance, but not adapted to for- 
mal presentation. There was no qualification excepting membership 
in the American Association, even those merely interested in botany 
being invited to enroll as members. It thus became and continues to 
bea very general botanical conference, with just organization enough 
to keep it in existence, and no publication. It is the best organization 
for the cultivation of a general botanical acquaintance, and the only 
botanical organization not strictly professional. It was not intended 
4S an overflow from the Biological Section of the Association, except 
So far as the section was burdened by botanical material not properly 
belonging to ik : 
THE Boranicay SECTION of the A. A. A. S. was next established, 
mnen the botanical papers of the Biological Section justified a separate 
‘ection. The papers of this organization are intended to be formal 
=~ Professional, and are published by abstract in the widely circulated 
rg of the Association, but the only limit to paige? ‘f 
mistak or the general Association. That botanists have repeatedly 
aken the purpose of this organization and have presented loose 
ate talks rather than formal and compact papers is not due 
