
42 
cultures. As mentioned in a previous report, a culculating ma- 
chine of the best and most accurate type is specially needed for 
the statistical side of the work, 
Cotton Rust Investigation—In connection with the recent 
sudden outbreak of cotton rust in southern Texas, Dr. Olive was, 
last July, asked by the Federal Horticultural Board, of the U. S. 
Department of Agriculture, to go to Texas to make an investiga- 
tion and.report. This disease was supposed to have invaded the 
United States from Mexico, and grave fears were entertained 
that, if not checked, it might spread over the entire cotton belt, 
inflicting thousands of dollars worth of damage. Dr. Olive’s re- 
port of this trip was published in the Recorp for October, 1917. 
Flora of Long Island—Mr. Taylor has continued during the 
year his study of the vegetation of Long Island, making numerous 
trips for field studies and collecting. 
Boston Fern Investigation —During 1917, the study of Nephro- 
lepis was continued along the same lines as during the previous 
years. The plant collections were several times moved and re- 
arranged until finally concentrated in House No. I, set aside for 
their special requirements. New accessions were received from 
time to time, in particular two collections of N. exaltata, made 
by Dr. J. K. Small in Florida. Several sets were distributed 
both to florists and to educational institutions, the latter of forms 
representing the progressive (orthogenetic) variations already 
described (Brooklyn Bot. Gard. Contributions No. 13, and else- 
where). There was also some distribution of illustrations of the 
latter for use in textbooks and lantern slides. The problems 
under investigations have been a continuation of those begun in 
previous years. A second annual appropriation ($100) from 
the American Association for the Advancement of Science, 
granted to Dr. Benedict, became available in May, and has been 
partly applied to expenses connected with visits to florists. 

Plantations 
Maintenance —Details of this work are given in the appended 
report of the curator of plants (p. 00-00). As the Garden be- 
comes more intensively planted the need is for more skilled 
