— i8 — 
North American, and ten tropical or subtropical in their relations. The paper 
will be published in the Bulletin of the Torrey Botanical Club. Dr. Alexander 
W. Evans next read a paper upon the Mexican Species of Plagiochasma, illustrat- 
ing the main features of different sections of the genus by blackboard sketches 
and outlining the distribution of the species. One of these reaches Texas, the 
majority being Mexican or West Indian. The paper will appear in the Bulletin 
of the Torrey Botanical Club, under a slightly altered title. 
Mr. E. B. Chamberlain then read a paper prepared by Prof. John M. Hol- 
zinger giving extracts from a letter recently received from M. Jules Cardot, the 
eminent French bryologist, also a paper by Miss Caroline C. Haynes upon the 
hepatics collected in Florida by Mr. Severin Rapp. Both of these papers will 
appear in The Bryologist. The illustrated talk upon Collecting near the Con- 
tinental Divide, which had been promised by Dr. A. J. Grout, had to be omitted 
owing to the author being taken ill at the last moment. Mr. G. B. Kaiser gave an 
informal talk upon the mosses and hepatics that occur in the immediate vicinity 
of Philadelphia with especial reference to their distribution and abundance, fol- 
lowing which Miss Annie Lorenz read an article enumerating the species of 
hepatics which are to be expected in New England, in addition to the many al- 
ready known from that region. Miss Lorenz indicated the distribution as at 
present known, and the soil preference for each species, and showed why it was 
to be expected within the New England region. This paper also will appear in 
an early issue of The Bryologist. Dr. Otto E. Jennings then exhibited a fine 
series of lantern slides showing the vegetation and ecological conditions in the 
vicinity of Pittsburgh, Pa., explaining in detail the influence that these factors 
have upon the moss-flora and upon the abundance or rarity of species. It is 
to be hoped that Dr. Jennings will some day prepare a paper for The Bryologist 
upon the same topic. The last paper of the program, “Notes upon the Prim- 
itive Uses of Lichens,” by Mr. G. K. Merrill, was read by Mr. Chamberlain. Mr. 
Merrill mentioned the uses of lichens as food, as illustrated by the Laplanders, 
the “manna” of Arabia and Northern Africa, and the “rock tripe” at times 
resorted to by Arctic travelers. He also mentioned the curious uses of lichens in 
the early pharmacopoeias and the valuable dyes that were formerly obtained 
from certain species, a use which still survives in the case of litmus. This paper 
is published in the Bulletin of the Josselyn Botanical Society of Maine, Number 
5 - 
At the close of the formal session, those present were the guests of the Phil- 
adelphia Botanical Society at a tea in the Library of the Botanical Building, 
where a jolly hour was spent. 
On Thursday morning, December 31, nine members gathered for a walk 
through a part of the Wissahickon Valley in Germantown. In spite of cool air 
and slippery paths, a most enjoyable time was experienced, and many inter- 
esting species noted. 
In connection with the meeting especial thanks are due to Mr. G. B. Kaiser 
for his labor in making the surroundings so pleasant and in attending to the 
multitude of details. The Secretary feels this the more keenly, since it was from 
