rl40 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



BOTANY 



Specimens of plants representing 320 species have been col- 

 lected the past season by the state botanist, of which 37 species 

 are new to the state flora and to the herbarium and 16 are con- 

 sidered new species. Descriptions of the new species have been 

 written, and in some cases colored figures have been prepared. 

 A considerable number of mushrooms have been tested in regard 

 to their edible qualities, and of these 11 have been thought 

 worthy of addition to our list of edible species. Colored figures 

 of natural size have been made of these, and it is expected that 

 these figures with full descriptions will be published in the 

 report for 1901. 



During the spring months some time was spent in preparing 

 and packing for transportation a collection of specimens for ex- 

 hibition at the Pan-American Exposition at Buffalo. This ex- 

 hibit was necessarily limited to the 120 square feet of space 

 allotted to it, but in that space specimens fairly representative 

 of the principal divisions and groups of plants represented in 

 the herbarium were shown. A journey to Buffalo was neces- 

 sary to put this exhibit in place, and another at the close of the 

 exposition to pack it for return. In the early summer it became 

 necessary to pack up and put in order the herbarium for re- 

 moval from the capitol to Geological Hall. This removal was 

 strongly urged and finally undertaken before the cases in Geolo- 

 gical Hall were ready for the reception of the specimens, in con- 

 sequence of which considerable extra work was necessary in 

 rehandling the specimens after the completion of the cases. 



The collection of wood sections hitherto kept on the third 

 floor of the wing extension of Geological Hall has been rear- 

 ranged in the cases on the second floor, so far as the completion 

 of these cases will permit. 



Full details of the work of this division are given in the 

 separate report 1 of the state botanist. 



IN. Y. State Mus. Bui. 54. 



