(17) 
Preservation of Native Plants 
The income of the fund of $3,000 established by the Misses 
Caroline and Olivia E. Phelps Stokes in rgo1 for the protec- 
tion of wild flowers, has been expended in part in the print- 
ing and distribution of essays upon the subject, which have 
received wide attention and favorable comment, and in part 
in defraying the expenses of the series of lectures, delivered 
in eight cities by Dr. C. E. Waters, Treasurer of the Wild 
Flower Preservation Society. It is believed that the existence: 
of this fund and the expenditure of its income are having a. 
salutary effect, in calling attention to the many reasons why 
natural scenery and native plants should be preserved. 
Administrative 
The action of the Board of Managers in promoting Dr. D. 
T. MacDougal, First Assistant, to the position of Assistant 
Director, which took effect on June 1, has been of very great 
advantage in the administration of the institution. I referred 
to him all details of maintenance, and have since then 
been able to give more time to the work of construction and 
to the oversight of the installation of the collections. This 
division of administrative duties is a natural one, and has 
operated satisfactorily. I have also been able to give time to 
the study of the West Indian collections, to the preparation of 
manuscript for the North American Flora, and to personally 
directing the studies of others. 
Reports Appended 
I submit also reports by the Assistant Director, the Curator 
of the Museums and Herbarium, the Curator of the Economic 
Collections, the Librarian, the Head Gardener, the Superin- 
tendent of Buildings and Grounds, and a schedule of ex- 
penditures under appropriations by the Board of Managers. 
Respectfully submitted, 
N. L. Britton, 
Director-in- Chief. 
