82 



SCIENCE. 



[N. S. Vol. XIX. No. 472. 



meeting was what might be called a work- 

 ing meeting. Those who had papers to 

 present were there and took active part in 

 the proceedings. It was unfortunate that 

 a larger number could not have been pres- 

 ent, but any meeting at which a large num- 

 ber of papers is presented, and where a 

 strong and vital interest is taken in the 

 work of the section room must be called a 

 successful one. 



Perhaps the second reason why the at- 

 tendance was small was in the fact that the 

 policy of the association, which calls for 

 working meetings, does not meet hearty 

 support from all of the members. There 

 is still some discussion going on as to 

 whether it would be better to have a sum- 

 mer meeting or a winter meeting, or per- 

 haps both. Some of the older members do 

 not feel like traveling long distances during 

 the winter and subjecting themselves to the 

 changes of temperature and other discom- 

 forts which come from winter travel. In 

 some cases it is not possible for college pro- 

 fessors to get away from their institutions 

 during the week of the meeting, and still 

 others do not like to leave their families 

 during the holiday vacation. On the other 

 hand, the majority of those present seemed 

 to feel that it was best to continue the pres- 

 ent method, for a time at least. There was 

 no open opposition to the winter sessions, 

 ajQd when the vote was taken in the general 

 committee the winter meeting for next year 

 was unanimously decided upon. 



Winter meetings do not readily lend 

 themselves to excursions. The time must 

 be taken up in the reading and discussion 

 of papers, and the social element must come 

 in the form of banquets and smokers. St. 

 Louis did all in its power to entertain the 

 convention, and several excursions were ar- 

 ranged, notwithstanding the unfavorable 

 season. 



AFFILIATED SOCIETIES. 



The following afiiliated societies held 



meetings in conjunction with the associa- 

 tion: 



The Amei-iean Anthropological Association. 



The American Chemical Society. 



The American Mathematical Society (Chicago 

 Section). 



The American Microscopical Society. 



The American Physical Society. 



The American Psychological Association. 



The American Society of Naturalists. 



The American Society of Zoologists (Central 

 Branch ) . 



The Association of Economic Entomologists. 



The Association of Plant and Animal Breeders. 



The Astronomical and Astrophysical Society of 

 America. 



The Botanical Club of the Association. 



The Botanical Society of America. 



The Central Botanists' Association. 



The Entomological Club of the Association. 



The Fern Chapter. 



Tlie Geological Society of America. 



The Sigma Xi Honorary Scientific Society. 



The Society for Horticultural Science. 



The Society for the Promotion of Agricultural 

 Science. 



The Wild Flower Preservation Society of 

 America. 



The policy of encouraging the affiliation 

 of scientific societies with this association 

 has been continued, and two more societies, 

 the Society of College Teachers of Educa- 

 tion and the Society for Horticultural Sci- 

 ence, have been added to the list. Some of 

 the strongest of the affiliated societies have 

 not sought any connection with this asso- 

 ciation. It would seem that an earnest 

 effort should be made to bring about some 

 connection between these organizations and 

 our own. 'In union there is strength.' 

 The scientific forces of the country should 

 stand together, and whenever it comes that 

 assistance is needed for scientific research, 

 or favorable legislation is needed for any 

 purpose, it will be obtained much more 

 readily if it is known that practically all 

 the scientists of the country are back of 

 the association which asks for such action. 



The first session of the meeting was called 



