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systematic section and the newly constructed but only partially 
planted rock garden. North of the rock garden a white oak 
tree was planted by the chairman of the Governing Committee 
of the Garden in the “white oak circle.’ Thence the guests 
passed to the southern end of the esplanade (in lawn for the 
first spring, this year), and past the 36 tulip beds, containing 
6,000 bulbs of 30 varieties of tulips, and 8 of narcissus. One half 
of these bulbs were from Holland, the other half were grown at 
Bellingham, state of Washington, by the United States Depart- 
ment of Agriculture. After passing through the wild flower gar- 
den, a patise was made at the plateau to the north where a black 
oak (Quercus velutina) was planted by the president of the 
Brooklyn Institute of Arts and Sciences. The newly laid out 
lilac triangle, containing 135 species and varieties of lilacs, was 
then inspected, and finally the Japanese garden, where new plant- 
ing, new paths, and other improvements were made this spring. 
The flowering cherries were in full bloom, and the day was clear, 
though windy. During the inspection of the grounds, boy scouts 
in uniform preceded the guests with the city flag. 
Research Appointments ——On April 3, 1916, the governing com- 
mittee of the Garden authorized the appointment of Dr. Ralph 
Curtis Benedict as resident investigator. Dr. Benedict is at 
present making a study of the varieties of the Boston fern 
(Nephrolepis) from the standpoint of experimental evolution 
and plant breeding. This study promises to yield information 
of both scientific and economic importance concerning heredity 
and variation in general, and in the Boston fern in particular. As 
a result of the work our collections of living plants has been 
enriched by over 75 varieties of Nephrolepis, forming one of the 
largest collections of this fern ever assembled. It is hoped that 
this may prove to be only the first of a series of similar appoint- 
ments. 
Dr. W. H. Rankin, who, on November 24, 1915, was appointed 
research fellow for the purpose of investigating the diseases of 
trees and shrubs in the Garden and in Prospect Park during the 
summers of 1916 and 1917, has been obliged to resign his ap- 
pointment on account of a change in his duties as assistant pro- 
