(258) 



could be properly mounted, rather than to permit them to ac- 

 cumulate awaiting proper labelling. The labelling has gone 

 forward as rapidly as possible coincident with accuracy, and 

 at the present time comparatively few specimens in any of 

 the public collections remain unsupplied with labels. A com- 

 mencement has been made on a scheme to cross reference 

 museum specimens to the living plants which yield them, but 

 this valuable educational feature can not yet be worked out 

 very effectively owing to the formative condition of both mu- 

 seum collections and the collections of living plants. 



The collection of fossil plants deposited with the Garden 

 by the Trustees of Columbia College, under the supplement- 

 ary agreement between the two institutions dated May 3d, 

 1901, was set up in the east basement museum hall during 

 the autumn. It consists of about 8,000 specimens, compara- 

 tively few of which can yet be displayed for lack of cases. 

 This addition of paleobotany to the subjects under the pur- 

 view of the Garden, materially strengthens our educational 

 tender to the public and to students and investigators. The 

 Columbia College collection is extensive enough to illustrate 

 the development of vegetable life on the earth from the most 

 ancient geological time when plants are known to have ex- 

 isted, to the present, not without very many gaps, however, 

 which it should be our endeaver to fill as opportunity offers. 

 The placing of the collection with the Garden was arranged 

 upon the suggestion of the College authorities, which was 

 cordially received by us, experience having shown that re- 

 search in paleobotany can better be prosecuted in connection 

 with the science of botany than with geology, besides afford- 

 ing the public an insight to the fascinating problems involved, 

 through the agency of a museum open at all times. 



The identification of the college specimens by means of a 

 painted symbol as provided for in the agreement above re- 

 ferred to, is going forward, in order to keep them readily 

 distinguishable from specimens the property of the Garden, 

 the accumulation of which has already been commenced in 

 cooperation with the Geological Survey of Maryland and from 

 other sources. 



