7IO The Smithsonian Institution 



eral aids to work done in meteorology and other branches of 

 science. If among the botanical contributions we find none 

 on physiological or histological subjects, it should be said that 

 the development of botany in this country has been slower 

 than that of zoology, and it is not until quite recently that the 

 study of botany with us has been expanded so as to embrace 

 all branches of the science. The period we are now consider- 

 ing was that in which descriptive botany prevailed. Circum- 

 stances are now favorable to a widening of the field in this 

 direction in the future. 



The foresight of the Institution in collecting and preserving 

 the different collections of plants which were to form a nucleus 

 for a national herbarium is greatly to be commended. Acting 

 as a faithful custodian of this material, so valuable for future 

 study, until a date when circumstances indicated that it could 

 be intrusted with safety to other hands, and leave the limited 

 funds at its disposal to be spent on the care of collections in 

 other departments of science, the herbarium was transferred, 

 on conditions which were liberal, but also conservative, for the 

 Institution still has a voice in the selection of the botanist ap- 

 pointed to take charge of the collections. It is to be regretted 

 that the efforts of the Institution in 1855 to induce Congress 

 to establish an arboretum on its ofrounds did not meet with a 

 favorable response from that body. 



