94 
book-plates or other mark of identification where needed. This 
work is progressing so that the collection as a whole will receive 
yrotection until such time as funds will be available for binding and 
— 
rebinding where needed. 
In addition to the regular routine work the staff cooperated in 
indexing a publication for the Index Londinensis Supplement 
which the Royal Horticultural Society is to publish. Books were 
assembled for exhibition in connection with the Long Island 
Tercentenary celebration and the Herb Luncheon of the Woman's 
Auxiliary, as well as the customary exhibitions on Rose Day, 
Chrysanthemum Day, and the regular Spring display of seed cata- 
logs. In connection with the Herb Luncheon the collection of 
pa 
her 
on the cover of the invitation. The Herbarium staff found the 
autograph collection useful in checking writing on herbarium sheets 
with some letters of Asa Gray in order to determine if the notes 
were by that botanist. 
Working with a collection new to one, there is always present 
a sense of discovery. Finding a Charles Darwin signature on 
one of the library possessions gave quite a thrill. As such “ as- 
sociation” items are found they are being recorded in the catalog. 
Work has been started at transcribing the scrawling holographs 
of famous men and typing them to facilitate reference and for 
use in display with the originals in exhibitions. 
vals proved of great use as sources for the illustrations used 
READER SERVICE 
— 
The library has been freely consulted by both the public anc 
the staff. Two groups of PWA workers have used the collections, 
one to compile a bibliography, the other to gather material on the 
possibility of American farmers growing crops that are now 
largely imported. 
INTERLIBRARY LOANS 
During the year the library loaned 80 volumes for use in other 
institutions and borrowed 20 volumes for use by staff members 
of the Garden. 
300ks were loaned to: American Fern Society; Brooklyn Mu- 
seun Library; Carnegie Institution of Washington, Dept. of 
