39 
Plant Breeding.—Investigations of the laws of heredity and 
variation in plants have been carried on as heretofore by the 
curator of plant breeding, with the part-time assistance of Mrs. 
Margaret Burdick and Mrs. Alma H. Raymond. This work is 
still much hampered by lack of adequate trained assistance, and 
by the dearth of such facilities as a calculating machine and suffi- 
cient greenhouse space. 
During September, October, and most of November, the cura- 
tor of plant breeding was on leave of absence, investigating 
grasses and grass diseases for the Office of Cereal Investigations, 
U.S. Department of Agriculture. This work involved collecting 
and investigations in various parts of Maine, Connecticut, Massa- 
chusetts, Vermont, New York, New Jersey, Virginia, and North 
Carolina. 
Plant Diseases and Mycology.—Dr. Olive’s report records his 
work, during his summer eee in September, with the Plant 
Disease Survey Office of lide OF >. Depattment of Agriculture, 
investigating the serious Po ator wart” disease in Connecticut, 
and also his field work near Ithaca, N. Y., June 1-6; on Long 
Island, June 24-28; and again in Connecticut, August 18-22. 
The fungus collections of the Garden were increased and enriched 
as a result of this work. 
Systematic and Ecological Work.—The curator of plants, Mr. 
Taylor, was one of a party that initiated an ecological survey of 
the region near the timber line on Mt. Marcy, May 31-June 8, 
under the auspices of the Ecological Society of America. The 
results of these investigations, involving quantitative instrumental 
measurements of climatic and other environmental factors, should 
throw considerable light on the question of the causes of a 
timber line, and should also yield information of practical value 
in connection with the problem of reforestation of high altitudes. 
Mr. Taylor also continued his studies of the flora and vegetation 
of Long Island. 
Collections of living plants made by the head gardener, Mr. 
Free, on Mt. Marcy during the fore part of October included the 
Lapland Rhododendron, dwarf specimens of willow from near 
the timber line, dwarf birch (Betula glandulosa), Labrador tea 
(Sedum groenlandicum), Greenland sandwort (Arenaria groen- 
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