145 



when pi-diHTly cillattMl iiiid l)r<mulu into its proper lif;irini;>. The fact remains, 

 however, that tliese (•orre>poii(ients are lor the most part only al)le to render 

 assistiinee i>n tlie higher plants. Tiiore are very few persons in tlie state wlio 

 liave the proper training i>r w Im are willing to make the effort to collect the 

 lower plants. Here there is opportunity for those who have charge of courses of 

 instruction in the colleges to render assistance. It would be of immense practi- 

 cal advantage to many of our botanical students to learn how to recognize the 

 lower forms of plant lite in the Held, and tiieir work in regions which have not 

 yet been visited would add materially to our knowledge ol the distribiitiun of 

 these ])lants in the state. 



In order to facilitate the reeoguitioii of tiie lower plants, and in accordance 

 with the preliminary announcement issued last year, ■ there has been prepared a 

 series of exsiccata^ representing the flora of Indiana. The first fascicle ctinsists 

 of 100 species of parasitic fungi so selected as to illustrate as many as possible of 

 the groups which prey upon the tissues of other plants. These sets are to be dis- 

 tributed as follows : 



One set to each of the four colleges of the state in whicdi a department of 

 liotauy exists, and in which there is a permanent herbarium established. 



Three sets to public institutions outside the state, where there are large col- 

 lections of plants accessible to the botanical student. The herl)aria thus se- 

 lected are (1) the collection of the Misscmri Botanic Garden, St. Louis; (2) the 

 Department of Agriculture at Washington ; and (3) the Herbarium of Columbia 

 College, New York. 



One set to the private herbarium of the Director. 



Other sets will be reserved for distribution to otiier institutions of the stale 

 where there is a reasonable eerlaiuly that tliey will be properly preserved and 

 made useful f(u- reference to students; or they will be sent to individuals who 

 contribute an etjuivalent amount of nuilerial representing the lower tlora of their 

 respective regions. Some sets have bi'cn used by the director for the jturpose of 

 exchange with persons outside the state, where this could be done in such a way 

 as to increase his facilities for work. 



There are five sets remaining that e.in be dislribiited within the state. It is 

 the purpose of the director to issue further sets illustrating <ither groups it suf- 

 ficient encouragement is given. Tlu- expense of the present issue, including 

 postage, envelopes for the si)ecimeus, and labels, to say nothing of the lab(M- of 

 preparation, has been contributed by the director. If it is thought desirable to 

 continue this distribution, it is recommended that the actual outlay of money 



'■' Proc. Indiana Academy of Science, 189:'. : Id, ]Sit4. 

 10 



