22 CARNEGIE INSTITUTION OF WASHINGTON. 



committee of advisers, Dr. D. T. MacDougal and Mr. Frederick V. 

 Coville, and the Solar Observatory now under construction on Mount 

 Wilson, near Pasadena, California*, and in charge of Prof. George E. 

 Hale. Although these departments are barely started, and necessa- 

 rily require additional time for the formative stages, they are already 

 producing noteworthy results and need only the eqergetic application 

 of patience and persistence to insure contributions to knowledge of 

 prime importance. 



The observational and experimental work undertaken in animal 



and plant biology is of a fundamental character, 



loogica ves 1 ^^ . g con | ;em p] a ^ e( j j ft j s thought, according to a 



scale adequate for the solution of the very difficult 

 problems presented. The systematic study of these for a series of 

 years can hardly fail to yield results of signal practical and theoret- 

 ical value. Several publications with reference to these investiga- 

 tions have already been issued and others will soon be ready for pub- 

 lication. The advantages for research in botany and zoology afforded 

 by our biological stations are attracting the attention and stimulat- 

 ing the activity of eminent investigators. Several of the leading 

 zoologists of America availed themselves during the past summer of 

 the facilities for the study of marine fauna afforded by the laboratory 

 at Tortugas, Florida. Similar use has been made of the opportunities 

 presented by the station at Cold Spring Harbor, New York ; while 

 the Desert Botanical Laboratory, by reason of the novelty and the 

 probable economic importance of its work, is an establishment of 

 profound interest alike to the scientific and to the general public. 



The horticultural experiments and the remarkable achievements 



of Mr. Iyiither Burbank are well known in a popular way, though 



it must be said that the more important aspects of 



Horticultural Exper- jjis work remain yet to be interpreted to men of 

 iments. 



science as well as to the interested public Owing 



to the impracticability, during the past year, of securing the services 



of a trained biologist, the preparation of a scientific account of the 



ways, means, methods, and results of Mr. Burbank's work has been 



delayed. He has continued his experiments, however, as related 



in his report, and it is hoped that the necessary arrangements for 



securing the scientific account of his work contemplated by the Board 



of Trustees will not be long deferred. L,ittle short of five years will 



be required for this work if it is done thoroughly well. 



