(49°) 



REPORT OF THE SCIENTIFIC DIRECTORS. 



To the Board of Managers, New York Botanical 



Garden. 



Gentlemen: The Board of Scientific Directors has held 

 two meetings during the current year, on May 6 and on 

 November 18. At the first meeting the appointment of Dr. 

 W. J. Gies as consulting chemist was made, subject to your 

 approval, and a new plan was definitely outlined for the 

 establishment of scholarships to aid botanical research. At 

 the later meeting these scholarships were recommended sub- 

 ject to your approval, and tentative rules for their operation 

 were approved. 



The scientific work in progress at the Garden has been 

 found to be in a most healthful condition, as shown by the 

 productive work of members of the staff, by the extensive 

 explorations carried on by officers of the Garden, by the 

 training of research students along various lines of botanical 

 work, and by the educational influence of the public collec- 

 tions in museum and conservatories. 



The appointment of Dr. Gies, in connection with the fit- 

 ting up of the chemical laboratories at the museum, is a dis- 

 tinct advance in the direction of research along one of the 

 most important lines of applied botany. 



The report of the Director of the laboratories indicates no 

 less than forty research students in attendance during the 

 year 1902, representing graduates of no less than twenty- 

 three institutions of collegiate rank. The provision for two 

 research scholarships for advanced workers, is a most notable 

 step in the widening of the influence of the Garden, and 

 will be a decided advantage to the advancement of botan- 

 ical science in making possible the completion of research 

 work by skilled botanists whose field of labor is now some- 

 what isolated, and at the same time will prove a distinct 

 and material advantage to the interests of the Garden it- 

 self. 



