1913.] NATURAL SCIENCES OF PHILADELPHIA. 707 



Report of the Botanical Section. 



During the year, following the policy of replacement of the old 

 wooden cases by metal ones, further changes have been made in the 

 arrangement of the herbarium. 



The Academy has furnished the herbarium during the year twenty 

 additional tins, part of which have been installed in the place of 

 the wooden cases formerly occupying the east wall of the north 

 room, the balance having been used to relieve the crowding in the 

 central room. The wooden cases thus removed have been placed 

 on the east wall of the local room, relieving temporarily the over- 

 crowding of this rapidly growing section. The cases taken from the 

 local room have been re-erected in the central gallery room and are 

 being used at present for storage. 



More than 10,000 specimens have been added to the general 

 herbarium during the year, the largest accessions being the herbarium 

 of Dr. C. D. Fretz, of Sellersville, Pa., presented to the Academy. 

 It numbers approximately 5,000 sheets, about one-third of which 

 have been assigned to the local herbarium. A large exchange of 

 several thousand plants has been secured from the Trenton Museum, 

 and smaller collections from the New York Botanical Garden, Gray 

 Herbarium, and University of Pennsylvania, with donations from 

 Charles S. WilUam5on and others. A majority of these plants have 

 been mounted and installed in the collections. 



During September the Conservator spent three weeks in Bermuda, 

 continuing his studies there in company with Dr. and Mrs. N. L. 

 Britton, of the New York Botanical Garden. On this occasion 

 particular attention was paid to the plants in several of the old gar- 

 dens in the vicinity of Hamilton and St. George's, much assistance 

 being rendered by Mr. E. J. Wortley, of the Agricultural Gardens. 

 Many specimens of interesting tropical plants were collected. They 

 wall add greatly to the value of our study material. 



During the year the Philadelphia Botanical Club has held its 

 meetings regularly in the herbarium rooms, and its members as well 

 as many visiting botanists have made much use of the collections. 



Mr. S. S. Van Pelt has continued his valued services in the care of 

 the local collection, and the Section is indebted to Mr. Bayard Long 

 for important assistance in the same field. 



At the annual meeting held November 20, the following officers 

 were elected. 



