(56) 
in the dried and growing condition. Most of these species 
have not previously been known in cultivation. Some of 
them, and probably one or more genera, are new to science. 
We take great satisfaction in the receipt of this splendid 
addition to our collections, especially in view of its useful- 
ness in contributing to the monograph of the family, upon 
which we are now engaged. 
Among the explorations of the year has been one by the 
Director-in-Chief, accompanied by Mrs. Britton and Dr. 
Shafer, to Porto Rico. Dr. Shafer visited also the neigh- 
boring island of Vieques. This work was performed in 
connection with the natural history survey of Porto Rico, 
in which we are associated with the New York Academy of 
Sciences. Another expedition was made by Dr. Britton to 
the Bermudas. A short excursion was made by Dr. Howe 
to the coasts of Georgia and Florida, for the study of 
marine algae. 
Advantage has been taken of the presence in this country 
of Dr. N. Wille, Professor of Botany in the University of 
Christiania, Norway, and probably our highest authority 
on fresh-water algae, to employ his services in the collection 
and study of these plants in Porto Rico and in the vicinity 
of New York. 
Dr. Stout, Director of the Laboratories, has made a 
somewhat extended visit to various European laboratories 
in the interest of his studies in heredity and plant breeding. 
This work, which has occupied Dr. Stout for several years, 
and in which he has interested a number of his students, 
deals with fundamental laws of plant growth and develop- 
ment and is yielding results which appear likely to modify 
existing views of the relations between sexual and vegeta- 
tive inheritance in plants. It is to be deplored that the 
Garden is not likely to be in a position to publish the results 
of these studies, which will be quite expensive, owing to 
the necessity ise colored illustrations. 
In reporting the continued growth, in circulation and 
influence, of the Garden publications, we would direct 
