109 



were completed. Because of length of service, the press of regu- 

 lar assig-nments, and also because of ill health, I withdrew as 

 Chairman of the Committee, but have continued as a member. 

 During the spring months, I served again as advisor of the Asso- 

 ciation's Seminar Program Committee which met several times 

 at the Botanic Garden, making plans for the November meeting 

 in which several high school teachers were the speakers. The 

 program was announced as under the auspices of the " Benedict 

 Seminar Committee." 



I have continued as college re])resentative for Biology on the 

 Science Council of the New York City High School System. 



In February, the Macmillan Com])any published " High School 

 Biology" (724 pages and many illustrations), by R. C. Benedict, 

 W. W. Knox, and G. K. Stone. Many of the illustrations are 

 credited as by " Courtesy of Brooklyn Botanic Garden." 



Editorial Work 



The American Fern Journal has completed its 28th volume. 

 Early in 1939, I shall have comj)leted my 29th year as one of its 

 editors. 



Plant Conservation 



Beginning at least as early as 1921, the Botanic Garden, through 

 the publication of special conservation Leaflets and other articles, 

 has been a center for the dissemination of information on this 

 subject. Furthermore, as one experimental method of promoting 

 the preservation of rare plants, several cultures of hart's-tongue 

 fern have been raised from s])ores and distributed at a nominal 

 cost, for use in outdoor fern gardens and in naturalization tests. 

 Another culture of hart's-tongue was distributed during 1938. 

 To numerous inquiries as to conservation literature, a negative 

 answer has had to be given, owing to the exhaustion of the supply 

 of printed matter; the Leaflets on the subject are all out of print. 



Respectfully submitted, 



Ralph C. Benedjct, 

 Resident Lnvestigator (Perns). 



