DEPARTMENT OF BOTANICAL RESEARCH. 6j 



The Relationships and Distribution of the Cactacece, by N. L. Britton and 



J. N. Rose. 



A project for a comprehensive study of the cacti was organized early in 

 the year, and plans were made for the preparation of a series of illustrated 

 volumes dealing with the taxonomic, geographic, and economic features of 

 these highly specialized forms. 



Dr. N. L. Britton, director-in-chief of the New York Botanical Garden, 

 and Dr. J. N. Rose, of the Smithsonian Institution, were appointed Research 

 Associates and put in charge of this research. Dr. Britton places the entire 

 collections of the New York Botanical Garden (with the authority of its 

 Board of Managers) at the disposal of the Carnegie Institution of Wash- 

 ington for purposes of study, and will give as much of his time as possible 

 to the research ; while Dr. Rose will devote all of his time to it, and will have 

 full access to all the Government collections. Working quarters for him 

 have been provided in the Smithsonian Institution by the courtesy of the 

 Secretary. 



Dr. Rose was authorized to inspect the larger collections in Europe in 

 order to ascertain what material would be available for this study in the 

 living condition, a matter of great importance with respect to these succu- 

 lents. Three of the collections visited deserve special mention : First, that 

 of the Royal Gardens at Kew. Here has been brought together a very large 

 collection of living succulents from America, while in the herbarium many 

 important specimens are preserved, including some types, and especially 

 most of the material, from which the beautiful colored plates that have 

 appeared from time to time in Curtis's Botanical Magazine were drawn. 

 Second, that of the Koniglicher Botanischer Garten near Berlin. At this 

 garden Dr. Karl Schumann wrote his monograph of the Cactacese, and here 

 is preserved much of his material. Third, that of the late Sir Thomas Han- 

 bury, at La Mortola. This collection is undoubtedly the finest in the world. 

 The garden is situated in Italy, just beyond the French line, in the most 

 beautiful part of the Riviera, where in this balmy climate these plants grow 

 in the open often as well as, or better than, in their native habitats. Mr. 

 Alwin Berger, curator of the garden, has offered liberal opportunities for 

 the study of this collection and has already sent one large consignment of 

 living plants to America. 



Definite plans for field work have been inaugurated, the first of which will 

 probably be an exploration of the West Indies and the north coast of South 

 America, and this work, it is hoped, will be begun in the early part of the 

 next calendar year. This will probably be followed by thorough exploration 

 of the deserts of Argentina. South America. 



Much material is being sent in by volunteer collectors and botanists 

 throughout the Southwest, and up to the present time some twenty Govern- 

 ment explorers are sending in specimens as opportunity permits. Although 

 the combined cactus collections of Washington and New York are by far the 



