5 
from Abbé G. Bresadola, of Trient, Austria-Hungary, and from 
Mr. George Massee, of Kew Gardens, England. Sets of current 
European exsiccati are purchased as they appear. 
Considerable attention has also been given to the collection of 
oriental species in certain groups. Very valuable material was 
acquired by Mr. R. S. Williams, ‘assistant curator, during his 
explorations in the Philippine Islands, and this has been extensively 
supplemented by Philippine specimens sent in for determination. 
Most of the specimens of groups below, and including, the 
rusts are mounted in packets glued on herbarium sheets such as 
are used in the herbarium of flowering plants. The higher 
groups, however, contain many bulky specimens which must be 
preserved in boxes, and these are in most herbaria kept in a 
separate series, entailing much extra labor and no little inconven- 
ience. In order to avoid the double series here, we have had 
light wooden drawers made to fit the compartments in the her- 
barium cases and into these, in their regular order with the sheets, 
and insects, and, on the whole, appear to solve the problem as 
well as could be desired. Any one who has attempted to handle 
loose boxes in quantity will welcome some such convenient 
arrangement as this. 
For ready reference in the comparison of these bulky speci- 
mens and for the use of students consulting the herbarium, a 
synoptical collection is being arranged in alphabetical order in 
boxes glued on cardboard, each box containing good representa- 
tive specimens of a single species, with as many variations as are 
obtainable. This arrangement will save much time and will 
largely prevent the usual wear and tear and displacement of 
specimens in the regular collection. 
In the fungus collection are many field notes of great value 
relating to the size, color, form, etc., of the plants when fresh. 
idea being to keep everything relating to a given specimen as 
close to it as possible. The same disposition is also made of 
