56 
Numerous inquiries regarding economic plants, heredity, plant 
breeding, and South America have been answered, and I have 
given at various times and places public lectures on these sub- 
jects, as listed in Appendix 4. 
Respectfully submitted, 
OrRLAND E. WHITE, 
Curator of Plant Breeding 
and Economic Plants 
REPORT OF THE -CURATOR OF PLANTS FOR 1926 
Dr. C. Stuart GAGER, DIRECTOR. 
Sir: I beg to submit herewith my report for the year 1926. 
Collections 
Among plants of special interest added to the collections of 
living plants last year may be mentioned the California Tree 
Poppy (Dendromecon rigidum), the Chilean Beech (Nothofagus 
betuloides), and Ternstroemia japonica. 
An inventory of conservatory monocotyledons, taken in Jan- 
uary, showed the number of these, other than orchids, to be: 
genera, 162; species, 344; of orchids: genera, 27; species, 66. 
The Iris Plantings have been in the special care of Dr. George 
M. Reed who reports as follows . 
“The beds in the systematic section designed to show the dif- 
ferent species of the genus Iris were completely overhauled. 
Many of the plants in these beds had been grown from seed and 
proved untrue to name. It was therefore necessary to completely 
rearrange the plantings. Additional species were added, and the 
beds now contain a fair representation of species which grow sat- 
isfactorily in this region. A number of Bearded Iris were also 
added to the collection during the year, all gifts. Mr. Robert 
Wayman, Bayside, L. I., sent us 51 varieties, Mrs. J. Branin, San 
Lorenzo, Calif., Mes L. W. Hitchcock, New Rochelle, N. Y., 
tT, and VW. nee Burpee Co., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 12 
varieties.” 
Labels and signs were made by Mr. John McCallum as follows: 
