177 
and materials, with the vegetation at the door, with all day and 
night one’s own, together with freedom from the restraints im- 
posed by the closer contact with social conditions found else- 
where, left nothing to be wished for. Here time is punctuated 
in two points, the rising and the setting of the sun. In the hot 
though dry and invigorating atmosphere, and under such ideal 
. conditions, one may concentrate and sustain his effort without 
suffering fatigue. The night’s sleep in the open air, enjoyed by 
everyone in this region, refreshes and restores to abounding 
energy. I may be permitted to add that, although I had pre- 
viously reserved judgment as to the wisdom of the Direction in 
choosing the present site for the laboratory, I am now of the 
opinion, after seeing all the. possibilities of Arizona and New 
xico at least, that the decision to establish the site at Tucson 
oe 
was a one. Under the generous and efficient adminis-. 
tration of Dr. Cannon, and with its abundant equipment the 
Desert Botanical Laboratory should draw to it from time to time 
a goodly number of earnest workers, who will find many direc- 
.tions of study open t 
During the first two nn of August, Dr. Cannon and I made 
an excursion into northern Arizona, visiting the San Francisco 
Mountain and the Grand Cajfion of the Colorado. It was pro- 
posed to undertake a physiological reconnaisance, and to this 
end a number of instruments for the study of arian in 
subalpine plants were taken with us. Unfortunately, however, 
continuous heavy rains prevented us from carrying out our 
original purpose in detail. Moreover, the sustained droughts of 
the then closing dry season had proved markedly inimical to 
vegetation. The trip was, however, distinctly profital 
enabling us better to estimate the importance of the a eee 
a involved in the study of desert vegetation. 
In closing I have only to say that I spent two most enjoyable and 
eres months at the Desert Botanical Laboratory, and I have 
pleasure here in acknowledging my obligations to the Advisory 
Board, to whose courtesy I am indebted for the use of the 
Laboratory, and to the Botanical Society of America, whose 
patronage made it possible for me to undertake the work which 
I carried on. Francis Ernest Lioyn. 
