Ly, 
Books, pamphlets; and serials:catalogueds . 2... 4.25 eA ee ee tye sess 872 
Total number of cards typewritten and filed... ..... 0.0.0.0 .0 200005 1,480 
Torrey Botanical Club index cards filed durihg 1943................ 1,28: 
making a total of 63,857 
Number, of usersiofithe Library i... 6.4 afc ee ees okey ns 3,230 
Books ‘lent to-members"of ‘the staff.) 0.0.23. eee Abe 1,651 
RefenenGesquestiOns 5.455 45-6 4. fete tee 6 ge eee epee ne meee ae aes 414 
AMERICAN FERN SOCIETY COLLECTION 
Total Se of volumes in American Fern Society Collection, Decem- 
ber 943 
Se oe Ne nee EGE OE SEE MP Mi TEA Ces Saar our 62 
Total ae Olspalnphlelswen sh woak see vd «nets Sag ve eee eee 326 
Number of parts “ldded caer OAS Fe ceiei hs cue nee & ues nu eae ee een eeeean 28 

REPORT OF THE RESIDENT INVESTIGATOR 
(FERNS) FOR 1943 
To THE ACTING DIRECTOR: 
I submit herewith my report for the year ending Dec. 31, 1943. 
In genetic and botanical research, | have maintained the green- 
house collections of Nephrolepis species and varieties, and of a 
number of native fern species cared for under lath shelter in the 
Experimental Field. The scientific interest which attaches to the 
Nephrolepis variants has recently found expression in another 
text citation, a book by Julian Huxley in the field of evolution. 
| would note again that the general fern collection comprises a 
good selection of this group of the most primitive stem of the 
higher plants, those with vascular tissue. In addition to its 
botanical interest, it includes also most if not all of those fern 
species which have been and still are well adapted for house plant 
culture. 
The Brooklyn Botanic Garden is one of the centers of fern 
study and interest both in this country, and internationally, 
through the fact that it is headquarters for many of the activities 
and collections of the American Fern Society. Dr. Svenson as 
Treasurer, Miss Rusk as Librarian, and Curator of the Fern 
Society Herbarium, my own association as one of the editorial 
staff of the American Fern Journal, and the Garden storage and 
management of all the back files of the Fern Journal’s nearly 

