igs} OPEN LETTERS 207 
a much more useful contribution to science. I omitted mention of this 
paper because no infections were obtained from pure cultures, because the 
two organisms which were isolated were not described so as to be identifiable, 
and finally, because I was describing a specific germ and not writing a gen- 
tral treatise on cabbage diseases of which there appear to be several due to 
tacteria, The one man who has written on this organism so that other bac- 
terologists can make something out of his writings is Professor L. H. Pam- 
mel, towhom I gave full credit. Since the paper in question was written I 
have removed the final shadow of doubt respecting the identity of the organ- 
ism which Professor Pammel described and the one I have studied, by the 
discovery that whether it does or does not liquify gelatin is an accident 
a entirely on how the gelatin is made.— ERwIN F. Smitu, Wash- 
» D.C. 
"st ao ine complaint was rather that it was foo independent (witness the allegation, 
aay Bevel... . ha any desire to know what he [Russell] was doing”); 
“an se no explanation of the studious avoidance of any reference to the ante- 
passi e leave readers to judge of the validity of the reasons assigned 
Smith oor it in silence. We only remark that, under the circumstances, Dr. 
eas 
his relation Was identical with the one he was working upon. Nor does he improve 
to th 8 og 
Th newspa ©matter by magnifying now the errors of that preliminary notice, 
“scoop,” she P arlance the earlier publication of important information constitutes a’ 
but praiseworthy 5 Bupa rivalry, to “scoop” a competitor is not only legitimate, 
y: It is hardly so regarded in scientific work.— EDs.] 
BOTANY AT BROWN UNIVERSITY. 
qT ‘ 
— soighd of ie Botanical Gazette :—I1 think it is my privilege to 
Noteboon in i ‘mpression likely to be conveyed by the recent notice of my 
t as . Gazette, Personally I am wholly indifferent to the Cre: 
I feel boun me ‘iversity is involved in the charge of erroneous teaching, 
It is sey Say a word in her defense. 
leaching botany, the review that a glimpse is here given of the mode of 
Notebook is d ee. A glimpse, yes; a comprehensive view, no. My 
mem ts pu efred wholly for primary students and has been found to 
Zi admirably well. Histology and the lower cryptogams, 
