104 CARNEGIE INSTITUTION OF WASHINGTON. 



On June 10, Dr. Rose sailed from New York on a tour of four or five 

 months to study the cacti of western South America. This is the 

 most important field-work j-et undertaken in the United States for 

 the study of cacti. The family is represented nearly throughout South 

 America, extending into Patagonia, and there are perhaps as many 

 species existing in South America as in all North America south to the 

 Isthmus of Panama and including the West Indies, The majority of 

 these plants are very little known, and it is probable that many exist 

 which have never yet been studied or collected by botanists. The 

 successful carrying out of this exploration will therefore be sure to 

 contribute greatly to the scientific knowledge of the family. In July, 

 Dr. Rose commenced shipping collections from Peru and reported very 

 satisfactory progress. We are indebted to W. R. Grace & Co. and 

 to the Central and South American Telegraph Company for valued 

 cooperation and assistance in this work. 



The preparation of manuscript and of illustrations for the volumes 

 planned to present the results of this research has proceeded continu- 

 ously, except while the investigators have been in the field, and much 

 progress has been made. The descriptive accounts of most of the 

 genera and of the majority of the North American species, including 

 those of Central America and the West Indies, have been drawn up. 

 Genera which are represented in both North and South America are 

 as yet incompletely elaborated, but the field-work of Dr. Rose this 

 year in western South America and another trip planned for 1915 in 

 eastern South America should supply the material to complete the 

 investigation essentially. 



