1890.] Proceedings of Scientific Societies. 103 
observation not otherwise in easy reach of the division. At the close 
of a lengthy and interesting discussion of this paper a committee was 
formed, which drafted the following resolution: The Station Botanists 
desire to express their hearty appreciation of the generous support af- 
forded the Botanical Division of the Department of Agriculture, as is 
evidenced by the printing of the various bulletins of the Division, and 
the public ation of a Journal devoted to the special interests of Botanists, 
and in view of the unequaled facilities afforded by the large amount of 
botanical material accumulated in the Division available for the pre- 
paration of much needed monographs on important or difficult groups 
of plants, wish to urge upon the attention of the Secretary the desira- 
bility of prosecuting this special work, and its early publication, both 
in the interest of botanical science and for the direct assistance of 
station botanists. 
A paper from Dr. W. J. Beal upon ‘‘ The Province of the Botanist 
in the Experiment Station,’’ was read by the Secretary. It was shown 
that many subjects fall quite naturally to two or more of a station 
staff. Forexample, cross-fertilization may be done by the horticutural 
agriculturist or botanist, but a knowledge of botany is needed in any 
case. Grass experiments are in one sense agricultural, but a botanist 
is needed to determine the species. It is without doubt the work of 
the botanist to both determine the nature of a fungus disease and ex- 
periment with remedies. 
During a discussion upon the amount of teaching to be done by the 
station botanist, a paper by Dr. C. E. Bessey was read, showing that 
it was important for the station and college to hold close to each other. 
The advantages were mutual, for advanced students could at the same 
time do experimental work and learn how to conduct investigations. 
It was the prevailing sense of the meeting that only a few advanced 
students should be taught by the station botanist, and all large classes 
instructed by a college professor. 
A paper was presented by Professor McCarthy upon Seed-testing, in 
which it was advocated that some uniform method should be adopted. 
To this end a committee was appointed to report at the next annual 
meeting of the Association. The last evening of the Convention, 
after organizing as a committee or section under the new order of 
things with Prof. S. M. Tracy as Chairman, was spent in individual 
reports of work done. Among others, Professors Galloway, Chester, 
Saunders, Thaxter, and Arthur thus reported. It is proposed to obtain 
similar information from all the station botanists in the country, and 
embody itin a bulletin for assistance in coéperative work, and a com- 
