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investigation of color variation in Coleus has culminated 
in the publication by the Carnegie Institution of an inter- 
esting and handsome volume on this subject. In this 
work, Dr. Stout has confined himself chiefly to variations 
developed in budding, but he plans to carry the investiga- 
tion to the seedlings. A study of the chemical composition 
of the pigments causing the coloration has been referred to 
Professor Wm. J. Gies. A study of the pigments in the 
flowers of tulips is also planned. 
Dr. Harper’s studies of the genetics of corn have been 
continued during the past year. Other laboratory in- 
vestigations have referred to the behavior of sex in Mer- 
curtalis, a plant in the castor-oil family, self and cross 
sterility in the flowers of chicory, the effects of hybridity 
in Hibiscus, especially upon the color of the flowers, and 
the heredity of flower color in Verbascum Blattaria. In this 
plant, the flowers are sometimes yellow and sometimes 
purple, and there has been much speculation among botan- 
ists as to what determines these respective colorations. 
Other problems investigated refer to Carex, Tulipa, Pri- 
mula, and cacti. The flora of western Tibet has also re- 
ceived attention. 
The enlarged experimental space in the Garden which 
was last year assigned to the Director of the Laboratories 
has been fully utilized, and with satisfactory results. He 
now asks for a similar increase in greenhouse facilities, 
which it is earnestly hoped we may be able to supply. 
All the publications of the Garden have been maintained 
regularly. While there has been a natural falling off in our 
European support, owing to the war, there has been a 
marked increase in that from our own country. There are 
numerous indications of a healthy increase in scientific 
work in the South American countries, and it is important 
that we should maintain and extend close relations with 
all organized work and with botanical scholars in those 
countries. 
An important event in connection with our publications 
