32 MISSOURI BOTANICAL GARDEN. 
the use of this laboratory, on its completion and equip- 
ment, has been placed at the disposal of Mr. J. B. Nagel- 
voort, an expert plant chemist, who is desirous of devoting 
the greater part of his time for some years to a study of 
the active principles of plants, which it is proposed to have 
cultivated for this purpose under his direction. 
In every feasible way the library, herbarium and living 
collections of the Garden are made useful to investigators, 
whether connected with the institution or not. When they 
can be used here, every possible facility for their use is 
given visiting botanists. When this is not possible, they 
are sent to trustworthy persons or institutions, when their 
safe return is guaranteed; and, except for specimens or 
books of especial value which could not be replaced in 
case of loss or those in constant use, the Garden has always 
stood ready to place its library and collections for a rea- 
sonable time at the disposal of the botanical departments 
of colleges, or of capable investigators not having official 
connection with the centers of learning. 
THE SCHOOL OF BOTANY. 
At the end of the last college year, Dr. Hermann von 
Schrenk, who had been on the instructional force of the 
School of Botany of Washington University for six years, 
withdrew to devote his entire time to his important admin- 
istration and research duties under the Government. His 
place was taken by Dr. J. A. Harris, who had held the 
position of Botanical Assistant at the Garden for two years; 
and Mr. S. M. Coulter, who had been an instructor since 
the early part of 1901, was promoted to a newly estab- 
lished assistant professorship in the department. 
In connection with a newly established department of 
zoology, an arrangement was this’ year effected by which 
Botany 1,* and Zoology 1, of the undergraduate electives, 
* Rept. Mo. Bot. Gard. 143 24. 
