i9°-J Jones, — Pringle and Frost Herbaria 173 



arduous western and southern journeys there to spend weeks or 

 months, as other duties or season permitted, in its development, 

 care and study. It gradually outgrew his rooms and he decided last 

 winter to accept the invitation, first extended to him some years ago, 

 to transfer it to the University of Vermont and to make that insti- 

 tution his headquarters. This has been done and rooms adequate 

 for the largest probable developments of the next generation are being 

 fitted for its permanent reception. The building in which these 

 rooms are located is a modern brick structure, steam heated, and 

 strictly fire proof. The rooms in preparation will include a main 

 herbarium room about 40 x 45 feet, a store room and a private office 

 and study each about 20 x 20 feet. The herbarium room is lighted 

 from above as well as on the sides and is admirably suited for its 

 purposes. Cases are now being installed capable of holding about 

 100,000 sheets and there is room for at least as many more without a 

 suggestion of crowding. 



The Pringle herbarium now includes about 50,000 sheets, giving 

 the University a total collection to-day approximating 70,000. No 

 statement in figures, however, can give an adequate idea of the rela- 

 tive value of the Pringle herbarium. His aim heretofore has been to 

 make it widely representative of the known species of the world and 

 hence much duplication has been avoided. As a result these 50,000 

 sheets represent pretty completely, for the vascular plants, the known 

 flora of North America, a large majority of the European species and 

 a good showing from the other parts of the world. Specimens have 

 been added by collection and exchange with much painstaking and 

 discrimination — all except the choicest and most representative 

 being rejected. Those who have seen it and who are competent to 

 pass judgment pronounce it the finest large herbarium in existence. 

 Its further development will remain entirely under Mr. Pringle's 

 direction so that its symmetry and perfection will not be marred. 



The friends and alumni of the University upon learning of the 

 prospect of Mr. Pringle's coming to Burlington contributed $10,000 

 to constitute a permanent endowment fund for the herbarium and 

 associated research work. The University is indebted to the gener- 

 osity of Dr. W. Seward Webb for $6000 of this amount. 



Botanists generally will be concerned to know the effect of Mr. 

 Pringle's associations with the University of Vermont upon his future 

 field work. No demands will be made upon his time or energies by 



