578 PROCEEDINGS OF THE ACADEMY OF [1895. 



December 9th the following were elected officers to serve during the 

 coming year : — 



Director, George H. Horn, M.D. 



Vice- Director, .... Charles S. Welles, 



Recorder, .... Henry Skinner, M.D. 



Treasurer, .... Ezra T. Cresson. 



Secretary, .... William J. Fox. 



Conservator, .... Henry Skinner, M.D. 



Charles W. Johnson, 



Publication Committee, 



James H. Ridings. 

 Henry Skinner, 



Recorder. 



REPORT OF THE BOTANICAL SECTION. 



The Botanical Section respectfully reports that the general pro- 

 gress noted in former annual reports still continues, notwithstanding 

 the severe loss sustained by the death last April of its most zealous 

 and untiring member, John H. Redfield, who had been the able 

 Conservator of the Academy's Herbarium since the formation of 

 the Section. His death renders the recommendation of former 

 years, that a permanent Conservator should be employed, still more 

 pressing. It is believed that a fund of $20,000 wouldyield enough 

 to make a fair start in this direction. Mr. Redfield perceived this 

 necessity, and generously willed that his scientific books and collec- 

 tions should be sold to form the nucleus of such a fund. To aid in 

 this laudable object some of the members of the Section organized a 

 "Redfield Memorial Herbarium Fund," to which a little less than 

 SI, 000 have been subscribed, hoping to add to it the coming year. It 

 is earnestly hoped that the Academy will lend a vigorous aid in the 

 establishment of this fund. Until the whole amount is subscribed, 

 the interest will go to the purchase of additions to the collection. 

 It has been estimated that the work of verifying, arranging and 

 fastening down specimens, now going on by the voluntary work of 

 the members of the Section, could not be completed under four or 

 five years, even though there were no new additions. The dire 

 necessity for a regularly employed official is therefore obvious. 



The Section is clear of debt and has a balance in the treasury. 

 Meetings are held regularly on the second Tuesday in each month, 



