(17) 
where collections further illustrated the topic discussed, 
and these trips have been highly appreciated by visitors. 
The labeling of all collections has been continued and 
expanded, and all inquiries for information received by 
mail have been answered as promptly and as completely 
as possible. 
In order to still further develop the usefulness of the 
collections in public instruction, it is proposed to concen- 
trate the supervision of the direct educational work of the 
institution in a member of the staff, under the designation 
of Supervisor of Public Instruction. 
Exploration 
The very important botanical exploration of the Re- 
public of Colombia by Drs. Rusby and Pennell, referred 
to in my last annual report, was satisfactorily completed 
in the spring, at which time Dr. Pennell returned with 
very large collections of specimens and many living plants. 
Many seeds obtained from this trip have been germinated 
in the propagating houses, and interesting species have 
thus been added to the collection of tropical plants. The 
herbarium and museum specimens obtained have been 
classified in a preliminary way and their study will add 
greatly to knowledge of the flora of northern South America; 
duplicates will soon be distributed to other institutions in 
continuation of exchanges. 
e proposed cooperative arrangement with the Gray 
Herbarium of Harvard University and with the Smith- 
sonian Institution, referred to in my last report, was con- 
summated early in the year, and the first expedition under 
this arrangement was conducted during the summer and 
autumn in Ecuador by Dr. J. N. Rose, of the United 
States National Museum; the expenses of this trip were 
met by funds provided by the United States Department 
of Agriculture, aided by a contribution from the income of 
our Science and Education Fund and by a contribution 
from the Gray Herbarium. Dr. Rose returned late in 
