(366) 



Since this is the most important scientific work in which 

 we have engaged, and since its accomplishment would have 

 been quite impossible by the aid of the fixed income of the 

 Garden alone, the Directors take a special pleasure in 

 acknowledging their indebtedness to the many donors 

 who have annually contributed to our special fund for 

 this purpose, and in expressing our appreciation of their 

 intelligent generosity. 



In view of the vast area and diversified climatic condi- 

 tions of the Republic of Mexico, the amount of work that 

 has been done in that country appears to be relatively 

 much smaller than that in other parts of North America. 

 This is perhaps especially true of both of its coastal regions, 

 and of its series of high southern mountains, by which 

 our own western mountain systems are linked to the 

 South American Andes. It is greatly to be desired that 

 some carefully selected exploration work should be per- 

 formed in that country, in good time for the utilization 

 of the results in the remaining monographs of North 

 American Flora. 



In this connection, and because of the necessity of 

 having the herbarium results of these explorations in form 

 for quick and convenient examination, reference is here 

 made to the extra effort of the past year to mount and 

 place in the herbarium and museum the great number of 

 specimens which will be mentioned in the report of our 

 Curator. The result is that practically all of the hundreds 

 of thousands of specimens owned by the Garden are now 

 readily accessible, both to our own staff and to visiting 

 students. It is hoped that during the coming year it 

 will be found possible to complete the external indication 

 of the contents of the shelves of the Garden's herbarium 

 cases, thus saving much valuable time which is now lost 

 in locating specimens which it is desired to consult. 



Concurrently with this study of our general flora, some 

 remarkably productive work, of a rather novel character, 

 has been pursued in the investigation of our local flora. 



