Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-06-16

leading feature. but that participants in
such discussions be limited to five minutes
and that provision be made for the for
nation of special sections. or seminars for
the study Of special topics. The consti-
tuition adopted at the first meeting has
never been amended, but the bylaws
have been slightly changed The custom
OF having smaller groups in the society
for special topics was followed during the
early days of the society, but was short
ly discontinued. Up until 1907 the custom
was followed of having each meeting pre-
sided over by a chairman of program.
only one meeting to be presided over by
the same person. In this way considera-
bic spice was given the meetings, al
though the real president of the organiza-
ton was left with but small official duties
Early In the existence Of the society ii
was voted to have one open meeting a
year. to which ladies should be invited,
and the following year 1t was decided to
have an address read each year by the re-
firing president. Shortly afterward these
two events were brought together. In
1903 the society was admitted to MEM
bership in the Washington Academy of
Sciences
The present officers of the society are
w. A. Orion. president: A. Hitchcock,
vice president; Edward c. johnson, re-
cording secretary: w. w. Stockberger
corresponding secretary. and F. L. Lew
ton. treasurer. w. E. Stafford represents
the Botanical Society in the Washington
Academy of Sciences. holding the office
OF one of the vice presidents each affiliat-
ing organization being entitled to one
such officer in that body.
At the present time the membership of
the Botanical Society numbers a little
less than 125. This
Prominence of number includes
+ha Mo-h.,. however. practically
'AAe d all the botanists in
Washington, and, therefore, some of the
most foremost in this country, and even
the world. One Of the members Of the
society has compiled an interesting list
Of figures in connection with the society s
members. There is a work called Amer
lean Men Of Science" which contains APP
proximately 10000 names. 1t is in the
nature OF scientific biography on a
small scale. In this work are supposed
to be, SO far as Is possible. all those
scientists of any rank whatsoever. That
volume contains almost seventy-five
names Of members OF the Botanical So
cfety here But there has been a further
classification. which names 100 botanists
all over this country who are considered
the most renowned and who were
chosen by the conceded heads of botany.
That list includes almost twenty members
of the local society. thus indicating bet
ter than anything else could, perhaps. the
scientific Importance Of the local organ
ization. The list also shows that nearly
forty members are included In Who
Who" And more than twenty belong to
the Botanical Society Of America.
In choosing the most renowned" botan-
included
in the list who have no popular promi-
nence, while at the same time many Of
those who have received widespread at
tention for some discovery which aroused
the popular interest were not included in
the list. OF those most renowned" how
ever, are several who, on account OF
their work. have been placed at the front
Of scientists in this country, and who are
members of the local botanical society.
Frederick v Coville, designated as one
of those most renowned Is the presi-
dent of the Washington Academy OF Sci
ences and has acquired prominence
through his work showing how the blue
berry can be cultivated, a subject which
has created wide attention in botanical cir
cles as we'll as from the public generally.
David G. Fairchild. agricultural explorer
in charge of foreign seed and plant in
PRODUCTION of the Department of Agri-
culture. and Beverly T. Galloway, as
chief OF the bureau of plant industry.
both in the list. have attained their prom
inence through several different specific
lines of work. each one Of which would
have entitled them. to more than ordinary
prominence. David Griffiths, one Of the
most renowned has written a long
monograph about cacti and has shown
the farmers of the southwest how they
may be used as food for their dairy
herds, thereby gaining his right to re-
nown. Perhaps one of the best known
botanists who is included in the list is
Edwin Smith. considered the foremost
bacteriologist in the United States. His
latest achievement is his discovery OF the
great similarity between the disease of
plants known as crown-gall and that
scourge of humanity, cancer. Not only
public interest has been aroused by this
discovery, but the attention OF the entire
scientific world as we'll. Also included
in the list are Rodney H. True and David
White. DR.. True has gained prominence
through his work in drug culture, while
Mr.. White is we'll known for his studies
on plant remains in rocks, particularly in
beds of COAL
Among those members who are almost
equally well known scientifically, and
per APPS better
Good Work OF known to the gen.
A. p.4.:.4. eral public. is L. c..
'Ae A'o''''' Corbett, director of
lOH WHoSt WI N
there with vegetables has gained him not
only prominence. but the respect OF all
the farmers in this country. Haven Met
calf too, is well known for his work on
the chestnut tree disease, which is
threa tening to destroy all the chestnut
groves in the eastern part of this coun-
try. w. A. orion, president of the local
body. is well known in this country for
his work in breeding a strain of water
melons resistant to the wilt disease, and
abroad for his work on potato diseases.
c. " Piper is world authority on
grasses and forage plants. and recently
visited the Philippines to advise the agri-
cultural authorities there as to BILE
forage crops w. F. Stafford, formerly
lieutenant governor of tha Island of
Guam, has written many interesting de-
scriptions of the people and plants of
that island. and recently discovered the
botanical identity of the sacred ear flow
err of the Aztecs, knowledge Of which has
been lost for more than 400 years. w. J..
Spillman is known practically everywhere
for his writings on heredity and for his
studies in plant and nimal breeding. w.
A. Taylor, assistant chief of the bureau
of plant industry is known to science
for the large number of new varieties Of
fruits which he has brought before
American horticulturists.