SEPTEMBER 15, 1899. ] 
instrument. It was exhibited at the re- 
quest of Dr. J. C. Arthur, by whom the in- 
strument is offered. 
Professor O. F. Cook gave ‘ Notes on Some 
of the Work of the Division of Botany of 
the U. S. Department of Agriculture.’ 
The investigations of poisonous plants 
and the resulting publications were noticed, 
also the work of the Seed Laboratory re- 
porting upon the germinating power and 
purity (freedom from weeds and other adul- 
terations) of commercial seeds. Variety 
tests, particularly of garden vegetables, in- 
eluding recent introductions from abroad 
are also in progress, and the use of a large 
tract of land on the Potomac Flats has re- 
cently been secured for the purpose. The 
Section of Seed and Plant Introduction is 
conducting the importations from abroad 
and has had, during the past year, agricul- 
tural explorers in Japan, Russia and the 
Mediterranean region. The introduction 
of new cereals, including rice, garden vege- 
tables, dates and the fig insect (Blasto- 
phaga) are among the most important items 
secured. In connection with this work a 
collection of economic plants is a necessity 
and has been supplied by an herbarium of 
ecomomic plants. 
Professor W. J. Beal told of the Bo- 
tanical Club organized by the students and 
teachers of the Michigan Agricultural Col- 
lege. This has an order of procedure 
similar to the Botanical Club of the A. 
A. A. S. Dr. Beal also spoke of the 
introduction and persistence of Cabomba 
Caroliniana on the grounds of the Michigan 
Agricultural College. 
Professor A. S. Hitchcock spoke of the 
peculiar distribution of several swamp 
plants in Kansas and illustrated by maps. 
Their scattered and unexpected occurrence 
was remarked upon. He also exhibited 
first-year results of certain wheat crosses. 
Two or three other titles were passed, 
owing to the early departure or absence of 
SCIENCE. 367 
the authors. At the close of the session of 
the Club on Thursday afternoon, N. L. 
Britton, A. S. Hitchcock and O. F. Cook, 
comprising the Committee on Nominations, 
reported, and the Club elected the following 
officers : 
President—Professor F. 8. Earle, Au- 
burn, Alabama. 
Vice-President—A. D. Selby, Wooster, 
Ohio. 
Secretary—Professor F. E. Lloyd, New 
York City. 
Upon motion, the cordial thanks of the 
Botanical Club were extended to Professor 
Kellerman for excellent arrangements ; to 
the Local Committee of the Association for 
badges, and to the authorities of the Ohio 
State University for many courtesies enjoyed. 
It was remarked by Dr. Britton that the 
twenty-seven titles of papers presented be- 
fore the Botanical Club, those before Sec- 
tion G and those presented before the Bo- 
tanical Society of America show a greater 
number than in any other science repre- 
sented at the meeting. This he thought 
was an augury of widespread botanical 
activity ; it also indicates that but for the 
affiliated societies Section G would have 
been overwhelmed. 
On motion, the Club adjourned to meet at 
9 o’clock Tuesday morning of the next 
meeting of the American Association for 
the Advancement of Science. 
A. D. Srxsy, 
Acting Secretary. 
THE AMERICAN MICROSCOPICAL SOCIETY. 
Tue twenty-first annual meeting of the 
Society was held in Columbus, Ohio, Au- 
gust 17th, 18th and 19th; and, though not 
largely attended, it was an occasion of good 
fellowship and enthusiasm. 
Among the papers read and discussed 
were the following: An Expedient in Diffi- 
cult Resolution, by R. H. Ward, Troy, N. 
Y. The Relation of Cancer to Defective 
