14 MISSOURI BOTANICAL GARDEN. 



book cover, the name being written on a white label pasted 

 near the top on the front of the cover. This plan, which 

 I first saw in use in the Department of Agriculture at 

 AVashington, has commended itself to me as the best 

 method of preserving pamphlets, each of which is stitched 

 to muslin strips fastened to the inside of the binder; and 

 the cost, $4.00 per hundred covers, is not disproportionate 

 to the money value of the pamphlet, which is usually small 

 in comparison with its scientific usefulness. Each pam- 

 phlet in its binder is placed on the shelves of the library, in 

 its proper relation to larger volumes treating of subjects 

 similar to its own, the arrangement of the whole being 

 according to subjects, and the books being distributed 

 through the building so as to be most convenient with refer- 

 ence to the herbarium. An enumeration of the present 

 contents of the library shows: — 



5,225 books, appraised at f 19,300 00 



6,230 pamphlets, appraised at 1,850 00 



Giving a total valuation of $21,150 00 



In the latter part of October, Dr. Sturtevant, whose gift 

 of Capsicum material and notes is referred to below, wrote 

 me that he desired to make a further donation to the Gar- 

 den of his entire botanical library, including the scrap 

 books of his own writings and his manuscript notes on 

 edible plants, stating that he should wish to retain the 

 books during his life, or so long as he might have occasion 

 to use them, but asking me to take the necessary steps to 

 secure a formal transfer of ownership at once. The library 

 presented in this manner by Dr. Sturtevant is undoubtedly 

 the most complete and valuable American collection of pre- 

 Linnsean botanical books, and represents the expenditure of 

 a great amount of time and money on his part, since he 

 has for many years been interested in bringing together the 

 early literature of the science, especially in its application 

 to economic plants. In accepting this generous and quite 

 unsolicited gift, the Board of Trustees of the Garden at 



