AMERICAN FERN Society 21 
against their hybridity. But hybridization is easy under 
favorable conditions, owing to the immense number of 
spores produced and the consequent crowding of the 
prothallia. And, as hybrid plants are. usually more 
vigorous than their parents, they may be expected to 
outlive them and so increase in relative abundance. Dr. 
Benedict added that hybrids might reproduce themselves 
vegetatively, as fern fronds resting on the ground had 
been known to develop prothallial tissue directly with- 
out the intervention of a spore stage. 
Mr. Scott told something of the associations and 
points of interest of the part of Philadelphia in which 
the meeting was held, and of the laying of plans for it; 
and reported the progress of the movement to make the 
fern the state flower of Pennsylvania. After passing 
votes of thanks to Mr. Topping for his gift of 500 sheets 
of Philippine ferns to the Society herbarium, to the 
Committee on Arrangements and the Academy of 
Sciences, the meeting adjourned. 
About twenty members and several outside visitors 
attended, and I am sure all would agree with me that 
the meeting was thoroughly worth while, if only for the 
opportunity it gave to each of us to know, appreciate, 
and enjoy his fellow-members better and, by learning of 
their work, to stimulate and refresh his own interest. 
It is hoped this may be only the first of a series of meet- 
ings in different parts of the country. 
As many as possible of the papers presented will be 
printed in later numbers of the JourNAL, that those 
members who were not there may share, as far as may 
be, in the good time, and the profit, of those who were. 
. A. WEATHERBY, 
Secretary. 
