118 
and readiness of the Botanic Garden to contribute most fruitfully 
to the educational work of the borough. 
Kespectfully submitted, 
RALPH C. BENEDICT, 
Resident Investigator (Ferns). 
REPORT OF THE RESIDENT INVESTIGATOR 
(ECONOMIC PLANTS) FOR 1942 
To THE DirEcTOR: 
I herewith submit a report of the activities of 
Investigator for Ikconomic Plants for the year 1942. With the 
consent of the Garden, the Brooklyn Botanic Garden—Long 
Island University Course dealing with Economic Botany was 
omitted during the academic vear 1941-1942. The resident in- 
vestigator served as guide for several student-groups from the 
College of Arts and Sciences and also from the College of Phar- 
macy of Long Island University to the Botanic Garden Con- 
servatories and Grounds for general taxonomic studies. The herb 
the Resident 
jen 
and medicinal section was of special interest. 
The summer of 1942 was spent in research at the Marine Bio- 
logical Laboratory at Woods Hole, Massachusetts. Laboratory 
investigations dealt with the effect of the purine complexes de- 
rived from plants upon the problem of cell permeability and the 
oxygen consumption of fertilized animal egeg-cells. Field work 
was conducted to determine the availability in the nurseries and 
in the eastern Massachusetts area of drug and beverage (herb 
teas) plants in view of the current war shortages. A consider- 
able variety of plants were found to be available for beverage 
substitutes, but no appreciable source of drug plants was located 
in New England. 
Reports on research, lectures, radio talks, and publications are 
given elsewhere in this annual report under their respective 
captions. 
Respectfully submitted, 
RALPH H. CHENEY, 
Resident Investigator (Economic Plants). 
