34 THE MICHIGAN ACADEMY OF SCIENCE. 



lems to which the need of immediate attention is urgent, such as the 

 determination of a native flora tlireatened Avith disturbance or destruc- 

 tion. In the writer's opinion, means must always be reserved for such 

 special problems; but the main .work should still be territorially prog- 

 ressive. 



As to the survey staff, it would seem advisable that the State Geol- 

 ogist, as provided in the bill of last year, should be the chief, and that 

 he should call to his aid a botauist and a zoologist, both of whom should 

 be skilled in ecological work. These men might find a means of unifying 

 the scattered individual efforts, of gathering about one center the work- 

 ers in natural history now making observations, but without guidance, 

 in all quarters of the State. In every graduating class from this T'niver- 

 sity, there are students well trained in botany who beg for topics upon 

 which they may carry on research after leaving their alma mater. Doubt- 

 less all college instructors in natural science could tell a similar story. 

 It might be that the supervisor of the survey in botany and the super- 

 visor of the survey in zoology would find here and there in the State per- 

 sons capable of doing a part of the work of the survey of districts in 

 which they lived. These surveyors Avould be glad to work without com- 

 pensation, and they would be aided by correspondence and personal visits 

 from the director or his subordinates. It is not inconceivable that per- 

 sons partially trained for such work would be willing to spend a summer 

 at some institution, or in the field under direction, in order to prepare 

 themselves for participation in the survey. 



If, however, the method Just referred to should be thought or should 

 be found to be not feasible, each specialist would probably best form 

 surveying parties for summer Avork. By having their traveling and field 

 expenses paid, it is probable that several efficient young men could be 

 found each summer AA^ho would gladly assist in the surA^ey Avithout farther 

 remuneration. This has been practiced in the survey of Wisconsin now 

 under WRJ. 



Should the State apjiropriation Avarrant it, the botanist and the 

 zoologist of the survey should give all their time to the work, exploring 

 in the field in the summer, and using the winter to work up their data. 

 On the other hand, should the funds available be insufficient to secure 

 the services of two specialists for the whole year, men, otherwise en- 

 gaged in the winter, could be employed on the survey for the summer 

 only, and the work would go forward more slowly. The botanist of the 

 surA^ey should be one skilled in plant geography, with a knowledge of 

 soils, and. if possible, with a knowledge of glacial geology. The qualifica- 

 tions of the surveyor in zoology, I will let others formulate. • 



It would appear to me that for the first two years an annual appro- 

 priation of |3,000 Avould secure the services of a botanist and a zoologist 

 for the Avhole year, and would leave |300 to |500 a year for the study 

 of special problems. Should the annual expenditure be limited to |2,000 

 as Avas contemplated in the bill passed by the last legislature, it could 

 hardly be expected that competent men could be secured for the whole 

 year. 



In the latter case it Avould seem advisable for the State Geologist to 

 have an advisory board composed of at least one botanist and one zoolog- 

 ist, who should serve without compensation. It would be the task of this 

 board to plan for harmony and similarity of methods in the work of the 



