BIOLOGY, EXPERIMENTAL — DAVENPORT. 95 



biolog}' ; complete bibliographic indices, so that we may know what 

 has been published and is being published on any biological subject 

 that we may have to refer to ; as nearly as possible, all the more 

 important speculative and experimental books and papers dealing 

 with evolution, including variation, heredity, and plant and animal 

 breeding ; and current zootechnical and phytotechnical journals, that 

 we may learn of advances in methods of caring for animals and plants 

 and keep advised of available material. Our accessions of bound 

 books number 575. During the winter of 1904-05 the library was 

 installed and catalogued by Miss Mabel E. Small wood. 



During the winter and spring the staff met regularly to review the 

 articles bearing on experimental evolution that appeared in the liter- 

 ature received. 



The papers of the station, of which three have already appeared 

 and three others are nearly ready for the printer, have been distributed 

 to over 250 learned societies and institutions, from which we are receiv- 

 ing many publications in exchange. We receive currently the pub- 

 lications of nearly all of the State agricultural experiment stations. 



The necessity of making records by photography has led us to fur- 

 nish the dark-room quite fully. Mr. H. A. Hackett divided his time 

 between making photographs and helping care for the poultry. Ani- 

 mal photography is the most difficult phase of the art. We need the 

 best lens attainable for this purpose and have included the purchase 

 price in our budget for next year. 



The observations of the meteorological instruments have been made 

 daily, under the charge of Mr. F. E. Lutz. 



CARE AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE PLANT. 

 On January i, 1905, the station building was finally ready for 

 occupancy, and our real work under satisfactory conditions must 

 date from that time. The building is substantially made, is semi- 

 fireproof, and is highly convenient for our work. That work has, 

 however, grown so far in excess of our anticipations that it has 

 already become evident that the building is to be used chiefly for 

 office work and the preservation of books and records, and that the 

 breeding of organi.sms will be done in separate buildings. In 

 pursuance of this plan, there have already been erected one poultry- 

 house 10 feet by 60 feet, a brooder-house about 30 feet by 40 feet, 

 and a green-house 59 by iS feet ; 14 small chicken-houses have been 

 purchased, and it is intended to construct about 20 more. A glass- 

 covered vivarium for rearing insects and snails is also planned. We 

 hope in time to have a substantial birdhouse, with flying-cages, 

 for breeding canaries, sparrows, and other small l)irds. 



