938 



SCIENCE. 



[N. S. Vol. XVI. No. 415. 



not sensibly affected by the presence of 

 the fungus in the substratum or in its sur- 

 face. Placed subsequently in conditions 

 which were eminently suitable to the de- 

 velopment of the parasitic form, they re- 

 sisted its action perfectly, though control 

 plants which had not been cultivated in 

 the ground infected by the attenuated form 

 were killed very quickly. From their ex- 

 periments the aiithors claim to have shown 

 that the form of Botrytis cinerea inter- 

 mediate between the gonidial and the sterile 

 form can make plants immune to the at- 

 tacks of the latter. 



Researches of a somewhat kindred nature 

 dealing with the infection of particular 

 plants by specific fungi have been communi- 

 cated recently to this section by Professor 

 Marshall Ward in his paper read last year 

 on the bromes and their brown rust. They 

 brought to light many very important facts 

 connected with the question of adaptive 

 parasitism and immunity. Few questions 

 in vegetable physiology can compare in 

 economic importance with these when we 

 think of their possible development in re- 

 lation to agriculture. 



I have now somewhat hurriedly surveyed 

 certain parts of the field of vegetable 

 physiology. It has been impossible in an 

 address like this to do more than indicate 

 what seem to me some of the more impor- 

 tant problems awaiting investigation. May 

 we hope that all such work will be vigor- 

 ously conducted, but that the conclusions 

 reached will be scrutinized with the greatest 

 care and subjected to repeated examina- 

 tion? Great hindrances to the advance 

 of the science resulted from dogmatic as- 

 sertions made by eminent men in the past, 

 their personal influence having led to their 

 conclusions, not altogether accurate, being 

 nevertheless almost universally accepted. 

 Many years subsequently these conclusions 

 have needed reexamination, the result be- 

 ing the destruction of a whole fabric that 



had been reared upon this unworthy foun- 

 dation. I may close, as I began, by an ap- 

 peal to the younger school of botanists to 

 take some of this work in hand, and by 

 assidiious and critical experiment and ob- 

 servation to contribute to the solution of 

 the problems pressing upon us in this field. 

 J. Reynolds Green. 

 Cajibridge University. 



AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGISTS' UNION. 



The Twentieth Congress of the Ameri- 

 can Ornithologists' Union convened in 

 Washington, D. C, Monday evening, No- 

 vember 17. The business meeting of the 

 fellows was held at Dr. Merriam's resi- 

 dence, and the public sessions, commencing 

 Tuesday, November 18, and lasting three 

 days, were held at the U. S. National Mu- 

 seum. 



Dr. C. Hart Mferriam, of Washington,, 

 D. C, was reelected president; Charles B. 

 Cory, of Boston, and C. F. Batchelder,, 

 of Cambridge, Mass., vice-presidents ; John 

 H. Sage, of Portland, Conn., secretary; 

 William Dutcher, of New York City, 

 treasurer; Frank M. Chapman, Ruthven 

 Deane, E. W. Nelson, Witmer Stone, Drs. 

 A. K. Fisher, Jonathan Dwight, Jr., aJid 

 Thos. S. Roberts, members of the Council.. 



The ex-presidents of the Union, Dr. J. 

 A. Allen and Messrs. William Brewster, 

 D. G. Elliot and Robert Ridgway, are ex- 

 officio members of the council. 



Harry C. Oberholser, of Washington, 

 D. C, was elected a fellow ; Ernst Hartert, 

 of England, and John A. Harvie-Brown, 

 of Scotland, honorary fellows ; A. J. Camp- 

 bell, of Melbourne, W. P. Pycraft, of Lon- 

 don, Dr. H. von Ihering, of Brazil, and 

 Alfred J. North, of Sydney, N. S. W., cor- 

 responding fellows. Thirteen associates 

 were elected to the class known as mem- 

 bers, and eighty-four new associates were- 

 elected. 



