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1. The importance of building up a great collection in the National Capital. 
2. The fact that for many years the government surveys have practically ignored 
Botany, and that as a consequence there have been but few accessions from these 
sources, 
3- The need there is of having systematic collecting and study of our native 
plants undertaken in various parts of the country, as is now done in the Division of ~ 
Entomology. 
4. The fact that much of such study and investigation would bear directly upon 
the agricultural problems of the country, and that for this reason (if for no other) 
Congress should make ample appropriations for such work. 
_ __5. Acommittee should be appointed to inquire into the present condition of Botany 
in Washington. Is there not a tendency to build up ¢wo feeble collections? Is there 
not something being done in the National Museum or the Smithsonian Institution ? 
Now let a committee find out exactly what has been done, what is doing in all places 
in Washington and let it make a full and explicit report for publication in our scientific 
journals. 
6. Let the Club urge a consolidation of the botanical work in Washington, in 
order that there shall not be a conflict of interests and a division of the limited means 
available. 
I have no doubt that this suggestion will meet with opposition but I am convinced 
that the best interests of science demand such consolidation. Just how this consolida- 
tion should take place can only be determined by a careful study of the existing state 
of things in the National Capital. 
Trusting that you will be able to take some decisive action, 
Iam, very truly yours, 
CHARLES E. BEssEy. 
The Chairman then called on Dr. George Vasey, who spoke 
at length regarding the subject introduced by Prof. Bessey. 
To the Members of the Botanical Club: 
It is a great pleasure-to me to know that the Botanical Club has taken an interest 
in the work of Rotany at the Department of Agriculture and in the Herbarium of the 
Department, particularly in the action taken at the meeting at Ann Arbor in 1885, in 
which a statement was desired of the contents of the Herbarium ; the number of its 
types ; the completeness of its preservation ; and its convenience for consultation. A 
reply to these inquiries was published in the Herbarium number of the Botanical Ga- 
sette, June, 1886. ‘This reply could not at that time be made complete as to the num- 
ber of species represented in the Herbarium, but the gen¢ral statement was made that 
as to the phzenogamous plants of the United States there was a representation of 
about 90 per cent. and that of foreign plants there was as great a number. Further 
investigation of our exotic species lead me to conclude that we have, of such, about 
20,000 species. 
It is known to some of you that besides the Herbarium of the Department of 
Agriculture there is a collection of plants at the Smithsonian Institution embracing 
particularly a large representation of the plants of Europe as well as many United 
States plants. This collection has its place there chiefly for convenient reference in 
the work of the Paleontological Botany of the Geological Survey, which is in charge 
of Prof. Lester F. Ward. There need be no apprehension in relation to this appa- 
