58 
years 1920 and 1921 an approximate return to these pre-war 
s was reached. The amount of material received during 
1922 far exceeded all previous records, the total number of 
specimens being 60,035. 
With the scientific staff still below the pre-war strength the 
task of dealing even superficially with such a vast amount of 
material is exceedingly heavy. The naming of the large collec- 
tions is the work of years, but in pursuance of the policy always 
adopted by Kew an effort was made to deal as speedily as possible 
with small collections and individual specimens for name. It 
is realised that prompt determination of plants of scientific 
interest or of economic value is of the utmost importance to 
workers in the Colonies and Dependencies. In spite of the 
Assistantship for South Africa still being vacant, an attempt 
was made to meet the most pressing needs of all the African 
colonies. With a vacancy existing also on the general staff, 
Australian plants perforce continue unfortunately to be neglected 
and supplies from that continent have, in consequence, largely 
ce arrive. 
COLLECTIONS RECEIVED AND DEALT WITH IN 1922.—The 
number of specimens received is shown in the following table :— 
Collections purchased - 6,335 
Collections received as anata, or in i exchange 53,700 
Specimens received in small numbers join cea 
entries | - 3,350 
Specimens for exeminnaek wenseves on Dai - 2,353 
The number of specimens acquired under the first two 
headings is 60,035; those under the third heading are not 
included on account of the large number of common and useless 
plants they contain. It may be mentioned that the very large 
figure for this year is chiefly to be accounted for by the pre- 
sentation of the herbarium of the late Mr. J. R. Drummond 
by his Executors, although the number of duplicates which it 
is estimated will be distributed has been deducted. Apart 
from the Drummond herbarium, however, the — for 1922 is 
a record, 
The routine work of the year may be summarised as under :— 
Specimens poisoned - Approx. 20,000 
a laid out and prepared aon 
16,905 
Syscinens seeurited - 23,692 
Named ene incorporated ir in the : 
Herbarium 26,064 . 
Specimens distributed as Japhesies - 8,619 
From this it will be seen that of the 60,000 specimens received 
during the year, an amount of less than half that number have 
been put away named in the general collection, and it should be 
