48 



or grade from that which specially interests its more advanced 

 students. If the Torrey Botanical Club had forced upon it the 

 alternative of relapsing into its old days of dilettanteism, it 

 would probably be justified in preferring a state of dignified semi- 

 starvation ; but no such alternative is presented. It is quite 

 practicable for us to enjoy the beauty, grace, and sociability, which 

 characterized the Club's life a dozen years ago, while making this 

 very gain contributory to its higher scientific life. It is toward 

 this object that the various working committees of the Club will 

 direct their efforts during the coming year, and for which they 

 ask the necessary cooperation of the members. 



The new home of the Club at the American Museum of Nat- 

 ural History is convenient, commodious and beautifully furnished 

 and equipped, and it is hoped that the members will meet there 

 in large numbers and will discuss with animation the very many 

 and varied botanical interests which the city now affords. Among 

 the interesting features of our afternoon and evening meetings 

 during the coming year will be the following : The results of the 

 critical studies of local plants made during the last decade will 

 be discussed and illustrated. On May 9, there will be a "Violet 

 Evening," when all obtainable forms of violets will be ex- 

 hibited and discussed, as to identity and habits, and the results 

 of cultivation of native violets at the Botanical Garden will be 

 presented. In October, an evening will be similarly devoted to 

 the stud)' of asters and golden-rods. On both occasions special 

 collections will be made in the different characteristic localities of 

 our local area. Mr. Nash will devote an evening to the exhibi- 

 tion of the principal types of cultivated orchids, and Dr. liritton 

 will similarly discuss Cactaceae at" an afternoon meeting to be held 

 in the cactus house of the Garden. An evening meeting will be 

 devoted to a consideration of the trap-rock flora of Kssex County 

 X. J. Dr. Small will give an illustrated paper on the mountain 

 flora of the southeastern United States. 



The work of the Field Committee will also be conducted in 

 such a way as to provide instruction of a more systematic char- 

 acter than heretofore, and will at the .same time be made more 

 interesting. Work upon the local flora will be organized by the 



