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meantime to replace them pretty well by other very similar ones 
from sources not now regarded as worthy of attention. Is it then 
not equally probable that among the latter class we may be 
enabled to find some superior for the purpose of the vegetarian 
to any now in use? It is in the investigation of such subjects, 
that properly equipped botanical gardens can find a great field of 
usefulness. The periods of time required and the labor and 
expense involved are so great as almost to preclude a reasonable 
probability of individual effort being sustained to the point of 
success, whereas such efforts are exactly adapted to the organi- 
zation of institutions such as these. 
The popular idea of a botanical garden as a place for mere 
amusement, for the culture of plants beautiful to the eye, or for 
the accumulation of objects of casual, or even of educational in- 
terest alone, constitutes but a low conception of its real functions. 
The research department of a botanic garden should receive the 
deepest attention from its promoters and the highest resources at 
their command. Such a view, I may say, is taken by the mana- 
gers and directors of this institution and it is our aim to secure 
assistants in the various departments who are imbued with these 
ideas to the extent of interesting themselves in subjects aside from 
the perfunctory discharge of their duty. We only wish that we 
might imbue the public, who in one way or another constitute 
the real supporters of the establishment, with similar ideas so that 
they would inquire into the numerous well-manned departments 
of research which are here maintained and those of them who are 
able to contribute liberally of their means toward the maintenance 
of these departments and the better support of those who are 
devoting their lives toward these most important and even neces- 
sary public interests. 
H. H. Russy. 
NOTES, NEWS AND COMMENT. 
The Garden has recently received, from the Jardin des Plantes 
of Paris, in exchange for a collection of fossil plants from the 
Dakota group of Kansas, a collection of European fossil plants 
