IIG THE NATIONAL SCIENTIFIC INSTITUTIONS AT BERLIN. 



Two donations were received which, aside from the transportation, 

 did not cause further expense. One of them, the herbarium of Lieu- 

 tenant General von Gansauge, obtained in 1871, contained about 15,000 

 species, while that of Professor Laurer, received in 1874, contained a 

 rare collection of lichens and of mosses. 



Upon the death, in 1877, of A. Brauns, the state purchased his collec- 

 tions for 21,000 mark ($5,250), the Academy of Sciences his scientific 

 manuscripts for 4,000 mark ($1,000). They were transferred to the 

 museum on condition that they were to be preserved and made 

 accessible to specialists. The botanical collections consisted of: (1) a 

 morphological herbarium of forty-three maps ; (2) an herbarium of 

 phanerogams of considerable extent, which excelled by its wealth of 

 forms and localities ; (3) a valuable herbarium of ciyptogams ; (4) a 

 collection of fruits and seeds, among which the cycadie, conifenB, and 

 juglaudte deserve special mention. 



Owing to the want of sufficient accommodation the herbarium was, 

 in 1857, transferred to Berlin, and assigned rooms in the east wing of 

 the University. Here the collections remained until March, 1880, when 

 they were removed to the new building, erected at a cost of 280,000 mark 

 ($70,000) for the building and 80,000 ($20,000) for its internal arrange- 

 ment. 



At about that time the large and precious Metteuius collection of 

 ferns was purchased for G,000 mark ($1,500). 



The most valuable collection of Dr. Georg von Martens was pre- 

 sented by his heirs. It comprised 12,439 species and contained among 

 others the originals employed in " Schiibler and Martens tiora of Wiir- 

 temberg," valuable collections made by the Wiirtemberg Travelers 

 Society, and also 4,101 species of salt water algje in the best possible state 

 of preservation and fully described by the former owner. 



Finally the herbarium of the late Professor Lorentz was received 

 (who died in the Argentine Republic), which contained a large and crit- 

 ical collection of mosses as well as a rich herbarium of the Argentine 

 flora, being largely tlie originals employed in " Griesebach's determina- 

 tion of the Argentine plants." 



Access to the collections is granted to any one personally known or 

 l^roperly introduced. Any one desiring to compare or study plants or 

 other objects receives permission upon application, and is furnished 

 desk and temporary desk-room. Responsible botanists within the Prus- 

 sian domains can obtain the use of objects at their respective homes 

 for a limited period of time. Non-resident botanists can obtain that 

 privilege only upon special permission from the department. 



The collections of the museum are open to the general public in sum- 

 mer on Monday and Thursday afternoons. 



The University Garden. — Owing to the great distance of the botanical 

 garden the establishment of a garden as auxiliary means in the botan- 

 ical instructions received early consideration soon after the founding of 



