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DLXI.--UNITED STATES NATIONAL HERBARIUM. 
The development and organisation of the most Maior tant botanical 
institutions of other nations is of e especial —— o Kew, which is 
cj www brought into close relations with them 
The following account of the United States National Herbarium at 
Washington, by Mr. F. V. Coville, Chief Botanist to the United States 
Government, is therefore reprinted from the Botanical Gazette for 
November 1896 (pp. 418—420) :— 
T view of an evident laek of correct information regarding the 
t change in the custody of the National Herbarium, it has seeme 
desirable that a brief sketch of the present relationship and work of the 
division of botany of the United Vemm Department of Agriculture and 
the herbarium be presented to ers 
* During at least the past Mié. Mikttistra di ous, covering a period of 
nearly 12 years, there has been a feeling among the authorities of the 
Department of Agriculture that the "Division of Botany should be 
relieved of the custody of the National Herbarium, that institution 
haring grown beyond a mere consulting herbarium to the dimensions of 
t gov Marec repository of botanieal collections, an 
pennin a fit charge for the Smithsonian Institution. As a result of 
negotiations between the two establishments, the herbarium was jai ns- 
ferred about two years ago from the Department of Agriculture to 
redi d in. i fireproof building of the National Museum, which is 
under the direction of the Smithsonian Institution, oe _ department, 
rose continuing to furnish cumst money for its mainten But on 
uly 1, 1896, the museum assumed complete charge of the Herbarium, 
being enabled to provide for 7 through an füctenko of $10,000 in the 
appropriations of the museum, added by Congress for this special 
purpose. The disbursement of this sum for the National Herbarium is 
made, pides through the Smithsonian Institution. Two assistant 
eurators, Dr. J. N. Rose and Mr. C. L. Pollard, have been transferred 
from the Department of Agriculture to the Museum, with the necessary 
clerical help, and a new assistant curator of the cryptogamic RMECHU, 
Mr. O. F. Cook, appointed, the botanist of the Department of A 
Institution, the National Herbarium is now favourably situated to 
continue its development as the repository of the B collections 
acquire by the various branches of our governmen 
“The Division of Botany in the Department of Agidi has now 
a force of twenty persons, including clerks = labourers and funds to 
the amount of $29,000 available for the expenditures of the present 
fiscal year. Mr. Frederick V. Coville is botanist xi | chief of division 
and is especially engaged in work upon the native plani resources of the 
United States and upon the geographie distribution of plants. Mr. G. 
IH Hicks i is sistant hi and has special charge of seed investigations 
done by m their present distribution and means o issemination, 
ways of holding them in cheek, and warnings about eriy Ratodated 
T V. K. Chesnut has charge of the pharmacological laboratory and 
conducts investigations on poisonous plants, more particulary those 
native species which are a common cause of poisoning in man or 
