12 
as important as any in the whole realm of botany, and withal 
results which once known and incorporated in the science of 
botany might well offer facts of the greatest value not only to 
the inhabitants of the arid regions of America, but to the people 
of other desert regions, as well since no similar inquiry has yet 
been instituted in any part of the world. 
A statement of the scope, purpose and plan of organization of 
the laboratory approved by the Board was read by Dr. Mac- 
Dougal before the botanical section of the American Association 
for the Advancement of Science at Washington, D. C., De- 
cember 30, 1902. In the discussion that followed Dr. W J 
McGee, Professor J. W. Toumey, Dr. David Griffiths, Dr. J. H. 
Harshberger, Mr. T. H. Kearney, Prof. W. W. Rowlee, and 
Dr. H owles, laid stress upon the importance of the work 
devolving upon such a laboratory, and brought out the chief 
problems to be investigated. 
President Gilman, of the Carnegie Institution, participated in the 
discussion, and described the attitude of the Board of Trustees of 
the Carnegie Institution toward research. 
THE PALM COLLECTION. 
(With Piates XI.-XIII.) 
The palm collection has now attained a size to warrant its de- 
scription somewhat in detail. The past year has seen an important 
increase, the collection now embracing about 130 species and 
varieties, illustrating over fifty genera, so that it is rapidly be- 
coming of value for a comparative study of the palms, The 
major part of the collection, embracing the larger specimens, is 
installed in the large central palm house, no. 1; some of the 
smaller plants are to be found on the center bench in house no. 
15, which is just to the east of the palm house; while a number 
of the smaller specimens, or such as require special treatment as 
to humidity and heat, are at the propagating houses on the east 
side of the Garden, but these are few in number, so that practi- 
