356 ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc. 



S. X. McClellan, J. W. Nelson, J. A. Herr, H. V. White, C. B. Hege, 

 Geo. G. Uutcliison, Matthew Rodgers, W. U. Brosins, Samuel 

 McCreary, 11. C. Suavely, P. S. Feusteniaker, A. J. Kahler, W. C. 

 Black, M. M. Nagiuey, K. F. Schwarz, J. Sexton, J. A. Eschbach, A. T. 

 Holman, W. H. Stout, J. F. Boyer, E. E. Tower, J. Newton Glover, 

 D. M. Pry and M. N. Clark. 



The CHAIR: The next thing in order is the reading of the min- 

 utes of our last meeting. 



The minutes of the last meeting were read by the Secretary, and, 

 on motion, were approved as read. 



The CHAIR: We are now ready for the report of Sj^eoialists and 

 Standing Committees. First, the report of the Botanist, Prof. W. 

 A. Buckhout, of State College, Pa. 



The SECRETARY: Prof. Buckhout will not be here; his report, 

 however, is in my hands. If it be desired I can read it. 



At the request of a member, the report of the Botanist was read 

 by the Secretary, which is as follows: 



REPORT OF THE BOTANIST. 



By Paop. W. A. BcrcKHOCT, State CMerie, I'a. 



The correspondence of the Botanist for the year 1904, has been 

 very similar to that of previous years. The inquiries numbered 

 118; of which 44 were for the determination of plant specimens, 21 

 were respecting weeds, sometimes an example being sent with the 

 inquiry, 15 concerning fungi, 14 forestry and related topics, 3 re- 

 garding seeds, and called for naming the kinds sent, 5 proved to be 

 cases due to insect injury, while 16 were of a miscellaneous char- 

 acter. 



For the most part these inquiries were so similar to those of 

 previous years, and have been so frequently adverted to in previous 

 reports, as well as in current periodicals, that it is quite unneces- 

 sary to reconsider them here. Let me say, however, before passing, 

 that, while there is some evidence of a better understanding of 

 what has already been done in such cases and of what is already in 

 print and available concerning them in reports and bulletins pub- 

 lished for general dissemination, a very large number of people seem 

 to be quite ignorant of it, and we are prone to think that they have 

 something entirely new and that their experience is unique and 

 peculiar. In many cases the subject matter of their inquiry has 

 been thoroughly considered before in all its aspects and is well 

 treated of in some bulletins which can be had for the asking. Hence, 

 I often refer an applicant to one of these bulletins and advise him 

 to get it. In your Department of Agriculture, the series of bulle- 

 tins, which has now reached upwards of 130, comprises a great 



