30 
From what I have said it ee be clear that the function of 
botanical gardens in their relation to 
ent from their relations to college and eae students Nt 
after all, this difference is one of degree rather than of kin 
N. L. i 
REPORT ON A BOTANICAL VISIT TO THE 
ISTHMUS OF PANAMA 
Dr. N. L. Brirron, DrrecTor-In-CHIEF. 
Dear Sir: ¥n anticipation of fulfilling a long-cherished desire 
to investigate the marine flora of the Panama region, I was enabled, 
with your permission and with the aid of the exploration fund of 
the Garden, to leave New York for Colon on November 27, 1909, 
by the steamer Zagus of the “ Royal Mail”’ line. I was accom- 
panied by Mrs. Howe, who rendered efficient assistance in the 
preparation of the specimens secured. Our first stop was at 
Kingston, Jamaica, where we took advantage of a day’s wait-over 
to visit the Hope Gardens and to call upon Hon. H. H. Cousins, 
Director of Agriculture for Jamaica, and Mr. William Harris, 
Superintendent of Public Gardens and Plantations. 
Colon was reached on the morning of Sunday, December 5, 
and we immediately crossed the Isthmus —a distance of about 
48 miles—on the Panama Railroad to the city of Panama. 
This town is attractively situated on the placid island-studded bay 
of the same name and to the landward is flanked by near-by hills 
and distant mountain ranges. The next day we called on Col. 
W. C. Gorgas, Chief Sanitary Officer of the Isthmian Canal 
Commission, and were granted permission to stay for a time at 
the Taboga Sanitarium for convalescents, maintained by the Com- 
mission on Taboga Island, which is in the Bay of Panama, twelve 
miles from the city. The following morning we went out to this 
island on the government launch and were most hospitably re- 
ceived by the superintendent of the sanitarium, Dr. W. E. Mc- 
Pherson, who arranged for us a commodious laboratory and did 
everything in his power to facilitate our work. The sanitarium 
is located near the rocky shore and, altogether, our surroundings 
