10 MISSOURI BOTANICAL GARDEN BULLETIN 
attended by so many out-of-town guests, there being nearly 
seven hundred delegates present, the banquet was of a some- 
what different nature from those previously given. It is 
probably true, however, that never before has this bequest of 
Mr. Shaw’s been so thoroughly appreciated. Instead of the 
usual program of speakers, Mr. George H. Pring, Horticul- 
turist to the Garden, gave an illustrated account of his trip 
for orchids. The local florists were especially pleased at the 
assistance given them in entertaining their out-of-town guests, 
and all of the trade papers commented at length on both the 
banquet and the visit of the delegates to the Garden. On the 
occasion of this visit a wreath of magnolia leaves and dahlias 
was placed at the tomb of Mr. Shaw as an expression of the 
kindly relations existing between the florists and the Missouri 
Botanical Garden. 
The bequest provided by Mr. Shaw for ‘‘premiums or prizes 
at a flower show or exhibit’? was used in part for prizes at 
the fall flower show given by the St. Louis Flower Show 
Association. 
RESEARCH AND INSTRUCTION 
During the year 1923 the experimental or laboratory in- 
vestigations have been most varied in type. Studies along 
the line of metabolism of the fungi have continued to receive 
much attention, especially in the direction of nitrogen metab- 
olism and the relation of pathogenic citrus-inhabiting forms 
to citric and other organic acids. The location of a ‘‘Sulphur 
Fellowship’’ with the graduate laboratory by the Crop Pro- 
tection Institute has resulted in an extremely interesting 
investigation of the nature of the toxic compound in the 
sulphur-containing sprays and dusts. The problem seems to 
have been solved by the determination that this compound is 
pentathionic acid, and that it is a product related to a state 
of division of the sulphur particles. On this account colloidal 
sulphur preparations have been given the greater considera- 
tion. Diuring the latter part of the year field experiments 
have been designed (located primarily at Geneva, New York) 
by the Institute to determine the application of the principles 
to field work. Other graduate students have pursued studies 
dealing with the etiology and physiology of a few fungous 
diseases. The mosaic disease of tobacco has occupied much 
