TWENTIETH ANNUAL REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR. 29 



RESEARCH AND THE USE OF FACILITIES. 



One of the explicit purposes of the founder of the Garden 

 is scientific investigation. The means at the disposal of the 

 Board have thus far made it possible to devote to research 

 but a very limited part of the time of persons whose principal 

 employment has been in the necessary care and administra- 

 tion of the establishment. It is, therefore, with especial 

 satisfaction that the attention of the Board is called to the 

 publications of the Garden staff in the series of annual Reports, 

 and to the Usts of their scientific and horticultural papers in 

 the eighth, tenth, and fifteenth volumes, as well as that pre- 

 pared for the present Report.* 



From the nature of the case, research effort at the Garden 

 has been turned thus far almost wholly to such disconnected 

 and limited subjects as have compelled attention, rather than 

 to larger problems requiring consecutive investigation ex- 

 tending over a period of years. The latter plan, whenever 

 it shall become possible of achievement, obviously offers our 

 greatest opportunity, but, while awaiting such opportunity, 

 lines of work specially favored by the equipment, character, 

 and location of the Garden have been followed. Aside from 

 the privilege of devoting some part of their time to such 

 pursuits, which has been granted to capable employees, the 

 expenses of field work have been assumed by the Board on a 

 number of occasions. In addition to the scientific results 

 which have been acquired through field exploration, the 

 herbarium and plant-houses have been enriched to an extent 

 at least equaling the expenditure. In considering future 

 development of research work in botany, the necessity of 

 organizing a permanent staff whenever the revenue of the 

 Board shall make this possible is apparent, thereby making 

 it practicable to co-ordinate such individual work as may be 

 assigned to advanced students as contributions to the solu- 

 tion of larger scientific problems requiring continuous investi- 

 gation. While awaiting this desirable increase in the staff of 

 local workers, effort has been directed to securing an adequate 



* Kept. Mo. Bot. Garden. 8 : 221-232. 10 i 85-90. 15 : 87-97. 



