Febkuabt 13, 1914] 



SCIENCE 



253 



and the action of the semi-permeable mem- 

 brane, 12 pages. Three pages are devoted to 

 references. Two figures appear in the text. 

 The treatment does not claim to be exhaustive 

 " so far as concerns work important in its 

 time but now only of historical interest," the 

 aim being to give special attention to recent 

 investigations. 



The amount of space devoted to thermo- 

 dynamical considerations and the so-called 

 theory of " ideal " solutions, together with the 

 mode of treatment and what one reads between 

 the lines, clearly shows the author's leanings. 

 It is, however, quite safe to say that those who 

 have actually spent their time in the laboratory 

 at practical work with innumerable solutions 

 and diverse osmotic membranes, entertain very 

 little hope of a better understanding of solu- 

 tions and osmosis from thermodynamical com- 

 putations and mathematical equations of what 

 are termed " ideal solutions." One might in- 

 deed about as well talk of an ideal chemical 

 compound, an ideal plant, or an ideal animal, 

 as of an ideal solution. 



The monograph will doubtless prove useful 

 to students of the subject of osmosis, especially 

 because of the references to the recent litera- 

 ture, even though these be incomplete. It 

 moreover also contains a good, clear exposi- 

 tion of the existing physical theories of osmosis 

 and solutions. But in a publication of this 

 kind, which is especially intended for students, 

 one has a right to expect something that wiU 

 inspire and spur the student on to further 

 experimental inquiry in the subject. In this 

 respect, however, the monograph is sadly lack- 

 ing, and how can it be otherwise, for to those 

 that seek to solve the problem by thermo- 

 dynamics and theories of " ideal solutions " 

 oew experiments along specific lines naturally 

 do not suggest themselves, for they are really 

 not required for the purpose of the explana- 

 tion. A theory of " ideal solutions " suggests 

 chiefly how known facts can be harmonized 

 with it and how the " troublesome exceptions " 

 may be accounted for ; it does not suggest how 

 new fields may be opened up. To those that 

 thus vainly hope to solve the practical problems 

 of solutions and osmosis particularly as they 



relate to organic beings, one may well quote 

 the immortal words of Goethe, " Grau teurer 

 Freund ist alle Theorie und griin des Lebens 

 goldener Baum." 



Louis Kahlenbero 



TEE BOTANICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 



The eighth annual meeting of the Botanical So- 

 ciety of America was held in the State Capitol 

 Building, at Atlanta, Georgia, December 30, 1913, 

 to January 1, 1914, about ninety members being 

 present. The following officers were elected: 



President — ^A. S. Hitchcock, U. S. Department 

 of Agriculture. 



Vice-president — B. M. Duggar, Missouri Botan- 

 ical Garden. 



Councilor — D. G. Fairchild, U. S. Department 

 of Agriculture. 



One hundred and thirty new members were 

 elected to the society. 



The report from the committee on the new 

 journal was adopted. This provides for a co- 

 operative arrangement with the Brooklyn Botanic 

 Garden which will make possible the immediate 

 publication of the journal and the first number of 

 the American Journal of Botany will appear dur- 

 ing January. All members of the society become 

 contributing subscribers to the Journal, the price 

 being fixed at $3.00 annually to members and 

 $4.00 to non-members. Attention is called to the 

 fact that candidates for membership (meaning 

 those whose applications were received too late 

 for action or those who may apply for member- 

 ship during the year) may, upon approval of the 

 council, receive the journal at the same rate as 

 members. 



The address of retiring President L. E. Jones 

 on "Problems and Progress in Plant Pathology," 

 together with the symposium on ' ' Temperature 

 Effects," participated in by Dr. Frederick Barry, 

 Dr. B. M. Duggar, Dr. D. T. MacDougal and Dr. 

 Forrest Shreve, will probably be published in the 

 new journal of the society. 



The dinner for all botanists was held New 

 Year 's night, the topic for discussion being the 

 new journal. 



Following are abstracts of the papers presented 

 at the general sessions and at the newly organized 

 physiological section : 



The Seasonal Life History of Some Red Algm: I. 

 F. Lewis. 

 Experiments were performed at Woods Hole dur- 



