520 



SCmNGE. 



[N. S. Vol. IX. No. 223. 



Dr. A. S. Eakle presented ' Notes on Some 

 Rocks from the Fiji Islands.' The collection, 

 which included both igneous and sedimentary 

 rocks from about twenty of the smaller volcanic 

 islands, was made by Mr. Alexander Agassiz 

 during his recent studies in that region. The 

 specimens of eruptive rocks were found to in- 

 clude hornblende andesites, augite andesites, 

 hypersthene andesites and basalts. 



J. M. BOUTWELL, 



Recording Secretary. 



TOERBY BOTANICAL CLUB, JANUARY 25, 1899. 



De. N. L. Beitton presented a report on the 

 progress of the New York Botanical Garden, 

 with exhibition of photographs. Dr. Britton 

 said that during 1898 the species cultivated in 

 the Garden at Bronx Park have reached 2,110, 

 a gain of 700 on the previous year. The fru- 

 ticetum, on the jjlain northeast of the Museum 

 building, was begun in October, and now in- 

 cludes 195 species. The arboretum has been 

 increased to 178 species, including those native 

 to the tract. A viticetum is in preparation, to 

 be planted next spring, including rock-ledges, 

 and a rustic arbor about 600 feet long, now 

 nearly completed. An additional nursery space 

 near the southern corner of the tract was pre- 

 pared in the spring, and planted partly with 

 Siberian cuttings. Border screens are now 

 planted around the entire tract except to the 

 south. A complete record of all plants grown 

 is kept by means of a card catalogue. From 

 every plant which flowers on the ground an 

 herbarium specimen is made ; and these are 

 classified in a special herbarium, useful already 

 in satisfying inquiries. The use of the green- 

 house on the Columbia University grounds at 

 Morningside Heights was granted in 1896, and 

 is still very important to the Garden. This is 

 the old greenhouse built in 1857 by Mr. S. Hen- 

 shaw for the Bloomingdale Asylum, and is one 

 of the oldest greenhouses still standing in the 

 United States. 



Progress on the Museum building has been 

 active, and it is thought it will be ready for oc- 

 cupation by midsummer. The Power House is 

 nearly ready to put into operation. A sub- 

 way from this to the Museum is under construc- 

 tion. A stable, toolhouse, etc., have been 



finished. The range of horticultural houses is 

 planned to contain 13 houses ; the contract for 

 7 of these has been signed, and ground was 

 formally broken for them on January 3, 

 1899. Important work has been done toward 

 improving the drainage of the Herbaceous 

 Grounds, and a great deal of grading, and the 

 terraces about the Mui=eum have been begun. 

 The Lorillard Mansion is now used as a police 

 station-house, occupied by more than 65 offi- 

 cers, making a new and wholesome water-sup- 

 ply necessary. This has now been finished. 



The Hemlock Forest remains in healthy con- 

 dition ; only three trees have died in the last 

 three years. 



The Museum is planned to provide in the 

 basement a lecture-room seating 900 ; on the 

 first floor a collection of plant-products, with 

 models and photographs ; on the second, a sci- 

 entific collection for expert use, including a 

 mounted collection of the local flora on swing- 

 ing panels ; followed by herbarium and laborato- 

 ries on the top floor. 



The herbarium already includes 30,000 speci- 

 mens. Through the liberality of Mr. Cornelius 

 Vanderbilt, Mr. and Mrs. Heller are now mak- 

 ing collections in Porto Rico. Messrs. P. A. 

 Rydberg and Ernest Bessey made collections in 

 1897 in Montana, through the liberality of Mr. 

 W. E. Dodge. The results will soon appear as 

 a Flora of Montana, forming the first volume 

 of the Memoirs of the New York Botanical 

 Garden. 



E. S. BUEGESS, 



Secretary. 

 DISCUSSION AND COBBESPONDENCE. 



SOME SUGGESTIONS FOR SCIENTIFIC " SEMINARS 



AND CONFERENCES. 



To THE Editor of Science : I feel that an 

 experience of several years as a respectful and 

 regular listener to scientific papers by young 

 and old students, at college seminars or confer- 

 ences, and at annual or periodic meetings of 

 societies, gives me the basis for certain general- 

 izations, without leaving me open to the criti- 

 cism of judging from insufficient data. 



The principal generalization I should like to 

 offer is to the eflfect that our scientific students 

 in colleges and professional schools do not re- 



