39 
recreation, and relief from the artificial enviroment of city 
streets and buildings. The tourist in a given city may be re- 
stricted to one visit “to see the museum,” or “ to see the botanic 
garden,” but the local residents enjoy the larger advantage of 
being able to go as often as they like, not for the vague purpose, 
“to see the garden,” but to study the collections, and take ad- 
vantage of the varied opportunities which the institution affords 
for education, inspiration, and recreation. 
The number of requests we receive for information about 
plants, gardens, and botanical literature, by mail, telephone, and 
personal calls, is constantly increasing, as is also the public use 
of our library and herbarium. During the past year several local 
botanical organizations and garden clubs have welcomed, and 
have been welcomed by, the Garden as a meeting place. 
Investigations 
Tree Disease Survey —lIn my preceding annual report (p. 39) 
I noted the beginning of a survey of the diseases of the trees and 
shrubs of Prospect Park and the Garden, by Prof. George M. 
Reed, of the University of Missouri. A report of the first 
season’s work was published in the Recorp for January, 1917. 
Dr. Reed was able to resume his work as resident investigator on 
April 1, 1917, and was thus able to study and collect various 
forms and stages of pathogenic organisms not collected in 1916 
owing to the late season (June 15) when the work was begun. 
Dr. Reed remained in residence until the twelfth of September. 
His final report will appear in the Botanic Garden Recorp for 
January, 1918. Much valuable information has resulted from 
this study, and our herbarium collections have also been ‘greatly 
enriched by specimens collected and prepared by Dr. Reed git 
would be desirable to have this work further continued through 
the late fall, winter, and early spring, if arrangements could be 
made by Dr. Reed for leave of absence from his regular duties at 
that time of year. 
Plant Breeding.—Experimental investigations of heredity and 
variation in peas, castor beans, and corn, as reported for preced- 
ing years, have been continued by and under the direction of the 
