73 



There has l)een a lart^e increase in the demand for sterile agar 

 in petri dishes, the number of dishes having nearly doubled in the 

 last two years. The following figures show the increase during 

 the last four years : 



Year 1926 1,667 



" 1927 2,338 



" 1928 3-2:^^ 



" 1929 4.134 



The dishes, brought by the school messenger, are filled by us with 

 the sterile agar, and then called for. Idiey are practically indis- 

 pensable for the teaching of the manner of growth and develop- 

 ment of colonies of bacteria and fungi. ^ 



In all of this work it should be emi^hasized that it is the policy 

 of the (jarden to supply the schools with materials which they 

 could obtain easily in no other way. Idiis applies ])articularly to 

 fresh living specimens, which are of inestimable value for enliven- 

 ing the printed pages of te.x;t books. It has never been the aim of 

 the Garden to supply the schools with charts, mounts, or diagrams 

 which can readily be bought at supply houses. This policy applies 

 also to the preparation of the agar for petri dishes. Idiis is done 

 by the Garden only for those schools which have not the requisite 

 apparatus for doing it themselves. 



Classes, Courses, Etc. 



The course in General f'jotany Bi, as well as the Life of Plants 

 Cio, have been omitted from the Curriculum for the jircsent school 

 year (Se]:it., T92CHjune, 1930), and we have arranged a new course 

 planned es])ecially for teacher.s — Field Botany B6, starting in Sep- 

 tember. In this course we are trying to bring in more of the out- 

 of-doors, either by holding classes on the grounds of the Botanic 

 Garden or Prospect Park if the weather permits, or by the study 

 of fresh material brought in to the laboratory. Each student 



1 During the year, Riker mounts and c.xhil)ition cases showing various 

 types of wheat, barley, oats, rye, rice, and corn, as w^ell as specimens of 

 sorghum varieties showing tlie results of crossing, have been prepared by 

 Dr. G. M. Reed, Curator of Plant Pathology. These mounts and exhibits 

 have been made for distribution to the schools wdio, in turn, pay for the 

 cost of the material. (Sec p. 82.) 

 6 



