124 
Finally, the investigation along the line of the delimitation of 
the specialized races of smuts is a matter of very great importance. 
The significance of these races is great and for successful breeding 
work we must have exact knowledge regarding their occurrence 
and the extent of their specialization. Studies at the Brooklyn 
Botanic Garden already have revealed the existence of a number 
of races of the covered smut of barley and the two smuts of oats. 
GrorcE M. ReEep, 
Curator of Plant Pathology. 
FUNDS FOR RESEARCH 
In the Tenth Annual Report of the Brooklyn Botanic Garden 
for the year 1920 record was made of the pledge of the late Mr. 
-Alfred T. White, on behalf of himself and two other friends of 
the Botanic Garden, of $50,000, or so much thereof as might be 
necessary within the years 1921-1924 for the inauguration of re- 
search in plant pathology—this sum to become available in stated 
amounts during those years. By judicious economies and revision | 
of the original plans, enough will remain to carry the work through 
1925. ‘This balance is made a free gift to the Garden. 
In the Annual Report just cited announcement was also made 
of the appointment of Dr. George M. Reed as curator of plant 
pathology to organize and direct this work. As previously noted, 
Dr. Reed entered upon his duties on January 1, 1921, and early 
in that month a meeting of the Botanic Garden Governing Com- 
mittee was held at the Laboratory Building primarily for the pur- 
pose of meeting Dr. Reed. In his letter of gift to the Board of 
Trustees under date of November 15, 1920, Mr. White said: “I 
believe that the establishment of this new department will add both 
to the reputation and usefulness of the Garden.” 
Mr. White also clearly recognized that the contemplated project 
(disease resistance in plants) was not in the nature of a delimited 
problem that could be completed in four years, and in the letter 
above cited he expressed the hope that some time before the close 
of the four years funds would be forthcoming from some source 
