Febeuaey 14, 1902.] 



SCIENCE. 



251 



traffic, material results are quickly avail- 

 able for the testing of changes in organiza- 

 tion and management, they are rapidly 

 securing both strength and economy and 

 efficiency of administration, by combina- 

 tion. If the century just closed is likely to 

 stand out prominently in history as that 

 marked by specialization and differentiation, 

 that on which we have just entered appears 

 likely to take place as that in which ra- 

 tional union, coordination and centralized 

 organization form prominent features ; and 

 this is likely to be as true of the machinery 

 of instruction and of research as it is of 

 business combinations. 



Professor Minot has very thoughtfully 

 and logically presented the bearing of this 

 line of thought on this society and the 

 affiliated organizations. Difficulties may be 

 experienced at first in perfecting the details 

 of the most useful and workable organiza- 

 tion, but they are likely to be seen and over- 

 come, and I have little doubt that the great 

 Washington meeting that we are all hoping 

 to attend next winter will initiate a federa- 

 tion of scientific interests that, without 

 losing in productiveness, will gain an al- 

 most irresistible strength which will be pro- 

 ductive of great good in mauy ways. 



But in this centralization of interests 

 those who can not travel great distances to 

 attend the general meetings should not be 

 forgotten. I feel that while none of us who 

 can attend the great meetings can afford to 

 miss them, those who can not go to them 

 should be given every help and encourage- 

 ment in holding meetings at places con- 

 venient to their homes. I have assumed 

 that your committee, in inviting me to take 

 part in this discussion, did so because they 

 wished the point of view of the central 

 botanists represented. On this assumption 

 I have tried as far as possible to ascertain 

 the feeling of those botanists, and I think 

 I may say without impropriety that the 

 botanists now meeting in connection with 



this Society feel the need of a local organi- 

 zation, and have taken steps toward its 

 formation, though, in view of the discussion 

 to be held this afternoon, possible action by 

 this Society this evening, and the announce- 

 ment of a general meeting of the central 

 naturalists called for to-morrow morning, 

 for the consideration of the same question, 

 they have deferred their final action until 

 to-morrow. "Whatever they may believe de-' 

 sir able for the furtherance of their more im- 

 mediate interests, I am confident that their 

 support may be counted on for all wise con- 

 centration, and that at all times, those who 

 are able and free to attend the general 

 meetings may be counted on to do so, while 

 those who must stay nearer home will prove 

 willing to act in unison with the central 

 body on all matters of scientific impor- 

 tance where concerted action is needed, 

 while they anticipate no refusal of the full 

 power of the general organization in any 

 matter concerning which it is proper for 

 them to ask support. 



William Trelease. 

 MissouEi Botanical Gakdens. 



Theee are evidently two subjects under 

 consideration by the Society, and these are 

 only indirectly related. One is the subject 

 of cooperation, affiliation, or more organic 

 union between the American Society of 

 Naturalists and the American Association 

 for the Advancement of Science; and the 

 other is the organization of local branches 

 of the Society of Naturalists, or sectional 

 societies having a similar field and affiliated 

 with that general organization. 



Assuming that the time of meeting of 

 the American Association is to be changed 

 to Convocation Week, there seems to be a 

 practically unanimous judgment favorable 

 to a meeting of that society and the Society 

 of Naturalists at the same time and place, 

 and to a close coordination or affiliation of 

 the work of these societies. I can see how 



