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been a feature of the work of the Garden since its estab- 
lishment, has been continued, but not as extensively as in 
former years. The most important exploration work ac- 
complished was carried out by Dr. J. A. Shafer, a special 
agent, who was financed by me personally in making a 
large collection of living and prepared specimens of cac- 
tuses in Argentina, eastern Bolivia, Paraguay and western 
Uruguay, during the early part of the year. This valuable 
collection was brought home by him in excellent condition, 
and has added greatly to the completeness of the mono- 
graph of Cactaceae prepared by me in cooperation with 
Dr. J. N. Rose, of the Smithsonian Institution, for pub- 
lication by the Carnegie Institution of Washington. 
Dr. Henry H. Rusby conducted botanical exploration 
in the Republic of Colombia during the summer, aided by 
Dr. Francis W. Pennell, one of our Associate Curators. 
The expedition was privately financed, and was primarily 
a search for new or rare drug plants. Dr. Rusby returned 
in the autumn, bringing with him a large and valuable col- 
lection of museum and herbarium specimens, leaving Dr. 
Pennell in Colombia to continue the work until spring. 
Dr. Pennell writes that he has made a shipment of speci- 
mens from Bogota, and other shipments are expected to 
follow. 
Our valued correspondents, Mr. William Harris in 
Jamaica, and Brother Leon in Cuba, continued to send 
valuable collections, especially for the herbarium. 
Dr. John K. Small, Head Curator, continued his explora- 
tion of extreme southern Florida in cooperation with Mr. 
Charles Deering, and made two trips into that region, 
which resulted in supplementing previously large collec- 
tions obtained through this cooperation by important series 
of specimens and of living plants. Ordinary funds have 
not been available during the year for exploration work. 
Reference is here made to the great desirability of ob- 
taining additional plants, specimens and information from 
northern South America, both from scientific and economic 
