61 
Genetics 
By Rate C. BENEDICT 
Nephrole pis 
Work with the Nephrolepis collection involves two lines of 
activity: (1) general maintenance of the collection for the interest 
and value of its status as an assemblage of horticultural and ex- 
perimental forms; (2) experimental research, looking to further 
extension of our knowledge regarding these mutable types. 
The first problem involves occasional stock-taking, attention to 
cultural treatment, and the continuance of the accessioned collec- 
tion in as representative a condition as possible. During the year, 
a special set of named varieties has been set up as a separate 
evolution exhibit in House 3; these varieties include examples of 
the basic forms, the primary sports of the Boston fern, and a few 
of the extreme lines of development. ‘rom time to time requests 
come in for living collections of these Nephrolepis sports, to be 
used as instructional material in university work. 
During the year an invitation was received to send a representa- 
tive set of this Nephrolepis material to the forthcoming Interna- 
tional Genetics Congress to be held at Ithaca in the summer of 
1932. In preparation for this, special spore cultures were started 
during the summer of 1931, so that both the sporeling and the bud 
types of variations might be available. In part, some of these will 
represent experimental cultures not heretofore developed and thus 
representing new experimental work. 
The prosecution of extended experimental work in this Nephro- 
lepis group is a problem of space, research time, and the enlistment 
of others in some of the varied phases. A beginning along the 
latter line was made some three years ago when Mr. Louis Eisman 
began work on the cytology of these forms, working at first at 
the Botanic Garden and continuing as a graduate student at Colum- 
bia University. 
Brassica 
Experimental work with Brassica has been continued. Some 
additional types have been grown, including one, the giant tree 
kale, which has now reached a height of eight feet. A collection 
of habit photographs, showing the great diversity of form within 
one cultivated species, has been assembled. Preliminary work in 
