REPORT OF THE BOTANIST. ' 159 



REPORT OF THE BOTANIST. 



Sir: I Lave tbe pleasure of submitting a report on the present con- 

 dition of this division and its work during the current year. The ])0- 

 sition of botanist was vacant from September, 1871, to April of this year, 

 when the present botanist entered upon his duties. Deeming it an im- 

 portant part of the work of this division to give attention to inquiries for 

 information on questions relating to botany, and particularly to practical 

 and economic botany, the investigation of such questions has occupied a 

 considerable amount of the time of the present oflicer of the division. 

 IMany of these questions relate to the nature or qualities of various 

 plants which have attracted the attention of different individuals, some- 

 times on account of their prevalence as weeds threatening great injury 

 to the labors of the agriculturist ; sometimes on account of certain 

 grasses which in some localities are intruding and extending them- 

 selves, overpowering and excluding the common species, and which the 

 farmer is at a loss whether to regard as a friend or foe; sometimes in 

 relation to grasses or other j)lants which have been thought to poison 

 cattle ; often seeking information as to the kinds of grasses adapted to 

 cultivation in particular locations ; and frequently calling attention to 

 certain plants which furnish strong fiber, and which are thought useful 

 for the manufacture of paper or cordage. 



All such questions having a practical bearing upon the agricultural 

 and productive interests of the country have seemed to have a legiti- 

 mate claim upon the attention of this Department. 



Another subject seeming to claim its attention has been the diffusion 

 through the publications of this Department of information regarding 

 the various species of our native forest-trees, and of the kinds which 

 are especially to be recommended for cultivation, particularly by farmers 

 and others living on the western prairies and plains. The material in- 

 terests of our countiy are so largely involved in the continued sui^ply and 

 consequently in the continued growth and reproduction of forest- woods, 

 as to justify all reasonable methods of stimulating the interest of our 

 people in this subject. 



The botanical collections of the Department have been removed to 

 more commodious quarters in the east wing of the building, and the 

 work of mounting specimens, and their investigation and classification 

 have been prosecuted as rapidly as circumstances would admit. 



The following additions to the collections have been matle during the 

 year : 



Three packages, comprising between 400 and 500 species of the alpine 

 plants of Switzerland, in excellent condition ; a contribution from Dr. 

 F. Lagger, Frieburg, Switzerland, received through the Swiss consul- 

 general. 



Two packages, embracing about 500 species of the plants of Austria, 

 from Dr. H. Keck, received through the Smithsonian Institution. 



Two packages of phenogamous plants, and a very fine collection of 

 mosses, of Middle Europe, from Professor Paul Eeinsch, Zweibruckcn, 

 Germany, also received through the Smithsonian Institution. The col- 

 lection of mosses is a very desirable increase to the herbarium of the 

 Department, embracing nearly a complete representation qf this order. 

 They have been carefully classified and mounted for convenient refer- 

 ence, and as a large portion of the mosses of this country are identical 

 with those of Europe, the collection will have additional value as a 

 means of determining our own species. 



