94 



these desirable qualities. The results so far attained justify the 

 hope that in a few years more this may be accomplished. The 

 general planting of such an improved variety would mean great 

 good to the entire community since it would assure better prices 

 for the grower and vastly better and more durable fabrics for 

 the consumer. Equally important problems confront the plant 

 breeder for each of the chief agricultural crops, and the labora- 

 tory could profitably employ fifty investigators instead of the 

 seven who are now engaged in the work. 



Mr. F. S. Earle exhibited plants of the common garden Nas- 

 turtium (Tropaeohmi) that had grown in a box in the window of a 

 living-room during the winter. Dry air and the occasional escape 

 of coal-gas from the stove made the conditions so unfavorable 

 that growth had been feeble and the leaves and petioles had devel- 

 oped a dense coating of rigid white septate hairs. The coating was 

 so pronounced as to make the leaves look as if covered with mil- 

 dew. When grown under normal conditions the very young leaves 

 show a few scattered hairs as they first unfold, but these at once 

 drop away leaving the plant entirely glabrous. 



Mr. R. M. Harper exhibited a flowering plant from the propaga- 

 ting houses of a large Arabis grown from seeds collected in south- 

 ern Georgia. It differs so markedly from any of the known plants 

 of that region that he considers that it is probably a new species. 



There being no further business, adjournment followed. 



F. S. Earle, 



Secretary. 



Tuesday, May 12, 1903 



The meeting was held at the College of Pharmacy ; Dr. H. H. 

 Rusby in the chair. 



The minutes of the preceding meeting were read and ap- 

 proved. 



Dr. H. D. House, of Columbia University, was elected to 

 active membership. 



It was announced that the following persons had been selected 

 by the President to constitute the Field Committee : Eugene 

 Smith, Chairman ; George V. Nash, Miss Marie L. Sanial, Miss 

 L. K. Lawall, Edward W. Berry. 



