24 



in these other institutions, important and essential as it is. This 

 matter has been stressed in preceding- reports of the (iarden, but 

 the question of duplication is like a perennial ])1ant, whose root 

 seems never to die, and so avc are forced to give some attention 

 to it at intervals in the annual reports. 



Only the ig-norant now ([ucstion the imi)ortance of pursuing 

 knowledge merely for the love of it. All the mechanical inven- 

 tions which are the chief distinction between ours and earlier 

 civilizations are merel\- l)y-])roducts of the work of investigators 

 pursuing their studies onl\- for the jo}' of discovering new truth. 

 The applied sciences of agriculture and horticulture are built upon 

 foundations of pure science research. Such has been the founda- 

 tion of all the educational work of this and other botanic gardens, 

 including- the exhibits in ]dantations, conservatories, and museums, 

 and the formal instruction in classes and lectures. 



Brardlrss Iris Project 



Iris is one of the few ornamentals to enjoy such widespread 

 popularity as to have national organizations fin this rnid other 

 countries) formed for the express purpose of furthering ])nblic 

 interest in it and ])romoting our knowledge of it. Tliis. of course, 

 is evidence of the rare beaut\- of the flower, and of its wid.e rang'e 

 of variation and hardiness, in A])ril, ](po. tbe I'otanic (iarden 

 entered into a cooperative agreement with tbe .\merican Iris So- 

 ciety to maintain here a test garden for beardless Irises and to 

 make a special stud\- of their culture, breeding, diseases, classiii- 

 cation, nomenclature, and conij^arative merit. This .Agreement 

 was ])ul)lished in the Erookhii Hotanic Garden Kiccord for Oc- 

 tober, 1920. In 1924, Dr. Reed, curator of plant pathology, took 

 charge of the project, as the ])atholog'y of Iris is one of the most 

 fundamental of these pr()l)lems. afTecting its culture and breeding. 

 1dic investigations have resulted in sul)stantial additions t(^ otu" 

 knowledge of this important group of jilants, and valuable data 

 have been accumulated, including many beautiful water color il- 

 lustrations of the more desirable varieties. Our test garden now 

 contains what is probablv tbe largest collection of beardless Iris, 

 in number of varieties, in the world. 



This investigation has now reached a stage where a tri]) to 

 Japan is essential for the purpose of making first-hand studies 



