416 BOTANICAL GAZETTE | NOVEMBER 
THE AMERICAN BOTANIST needs to make no such journey. At the 
distance of a week’s travel from almost every.important laboratory 
there lies a tropical region whose teeming flora is but little known, 
even to taxonomists. At our very door there lies a vast /erra incognita, 
with excessively luxuriant vegetation, and inviting endless research. 
The duty seems to be laid upon American botanists to establish and 
maintain an international laboratory in the American tropics, one 
which American botanists can visit at small expense during a summer 
vacation, or upon a short leave of absence, and in which the observer 
in the oriental tropics would find still other revelations. It is impos 
sible to overestimate the value of such an institution, not only to 
American botany, but to the science in general. 
THE ESTABLISHMENT of such a laboratory might be accomplished 
most easily by the cooperation of several universities, for its intercollegi- 
ate character should be maintained. Perhaps the original cost should be 
borne by private subscription, and the running expenses met by the 
different universities pledging themselves for so many tables. At ia 
the subject deserves to be taken in hand by a committee of botanists 
and investigated in all of its bearings. A study of the map will ont 
that the conditions to be met favor either the eastern coast of Mexico 
or the islands near the Caribbean Sea. It is estimated that @ trial 
station might be maintained on one of these islands for one yea an 
cost of $5000; and after the selection of a permanent station the 
laboratory buildings might be constructed and extended according 0 
the demand. The use of grounds necessary could be obtained from 
the government, and the area should embrace all possible levels 8° far 
as possible, a feature at Buitenzorg which is nearly ideal. 
Ir 1s TO BE HOPED that a reconnoissance party of American botanists 
will soon visit the region proposed and report as to possible 
Such a visit should be made before the botanical meetings of next som 
mer, to which the report would be most appropriately made. 
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