i ee ae 
MISSOURI BOTANICAL GARDEN BULLETIN 21 
Several hundred publications are received in serial form 
each year. Records have to be kept of the arrival of each 
part, missing parts secured promptly, all parts circulated 
promptly among the various research departments and then 
collated for the binder and finally distributed on the library 
shelves. Many books have been acquired by purchase and do- 
nation and many authors’ separates by donation, the exact 
numbers of each being stated in the statistical paragraph at 
the end of the report. 
A. guide to the contents of the library has been prepared 
as an aid to new users of the library, and has been in satis- 
factory use during the latter part of the year. 
From time to time, botanists have visited the library to 
work up or to consult the literature in their various fields. 
Such visitors are aided by all the facilities of the library dur- 
ing their stay. 
During the year books were loaned by the Garden to 22 in- 
stitutions for use by their investigators. Such loans are made 
on the interlibrary plan rather than directly to individuals. 
The borrower makes application for the loan through his uni- 
versity, which is responsible for the return of the book in 
good condition at the expiration of the loan and for transpor- 
tation both ways. 
Number 4 of Vol. IX. and Nos. 1, 2 and 3 of Vol. X. of 
the ANNALS oF THE Missourt BoranicaL GARDEN have been 
published during the year. These parts contain 402 pages of 
text, 21 plates, and numerous text figures. The ANNALS is 
our principal exchange for publications of scientific societies 
and institutions. 
The other Garden publication is the BuLLetin, of which 
11 volumes of 10 numbers each have been issued. While 
the BULLETIN was originally intended to serve primarily 
as a means of informing the public as to what was of par- 
ticular interest at the Garden, special attention has been 
given to native and exotic plants suitable for the gardens of 
Missouri and adjoining states. It now apparently fills a dis- 
tinct need among amateur gardeners in this region. Over 
50 of the articles from the BuLitEeTin have been republished 
in various horticultural journals in the last two years, and it 
is in increasing demand all over the United States. Visitors 
from the East and the West frequently ask to see some spe- 
