Lloyd, The Desert Botan. Laboratory of the Carnegie [nstit. of Washington. 793 



In order to the carrying out of the work, these two gentlemen 

 travelled together through all the typicaJ desert areas which pro- 

 mised suitable conditions, and the results of their .study of the 

 problem were embodied in a Report published under the title of 

 "The Desert Botanical Laboratory of the Carnegie Institution" 1 ). 

 This is a volume of 58 pages, illustrated by 29 füll pages plates 

 reproducing typical illustrations of the deserts visited, and five 

 figures. This paper included. besides the final conclusions of the 

 Committee as to the most suitable position for the laboratory, a 

 large amount of scientific Information pertaining to the character 

 of the soils and meteorological conditions of the areas treated of. 

 An extensive bibliography, compiled by Dr. W. A. Cannon, was 

 also an important feature of this publication, and has served as a 

 guide in laying the foundations of a special library of the literature 

 pertinent to the work of the laboratory. 



During the excursion niade by the Connnittee, the deserts of 

 Texas, northern Chihuahua and Sonora in Mexico, New Mexico 

 and Arizona were examined, and the conclusion arrived at was 

 in favor of the region about the city of Tucson, in Pirna County, 

 in the Southern part of Arizona. The later developments have, it 

 would seem, ampfy justified the choice, one which involved a number 

 of considerations. There should be a typical and abundant Vege- 

 tation of a drought resistant character to constitute the materials 

 for research. A too severe climate had to be avoided, and the 

 laboratory must be near enough to a centre of population for social 

 and practical reasons, and these the city of Tucson and the sur- 

 rounding deserts off'ered. The appreciation of the people of the 

 city was expressed in the practical form of subsidies of land for 

 the site of the building and to serve as a.preserve for desert Vege- 

 tation, the installation and construction of a water System, tele- 

 phone, light and power connections, and of a road to the site of 

 the laboratory, about two miles distant. 



The same committee was continued as a Directorate of the 

 Laboratory, and the plans for the building were drawn up under 

 their supervision. Upon completion, Dr. W. A. Cannon theo at 

 the New York Botanical Garden, was appointed Resident Investi- 

 gator, and took immediate charge. During the first year investi- 

 gations were carried on at the Laboratory by Dr. W. A. Cannon, 

 Dr. D. T. MacDougal, Professor V. M. Spalding, E. S. Spalding, 

 Dr. B. E. Livingston and Professor F. E. Lloyd, and these, with 

 the exception of Dr. Livingston continued their work during 

 the whole or a part of the following year. 



These two years have to be considered as a period of testing 



1) Car. Inst. Wash. Publication 6. 1903. 



