INTRODUCTION, 



In the progress of the work of the botanical division many facts and 

 observations are brought to light which hardly seem appropriate to be 

 incorporated in the annual reports, but which will be of interest to many 

 readers, and which will surely be welcomed in some form by special in- 

 vestigators in botanical science. 



In the great work which the Government has undertaken, of furnish- 

 ing the means of an advanced practical education through the agricult- 

 ural colleges and experiment stations, new appliances and new facil- 

 ities for instruction are becoming a necessity. It has seemed to the 

 officers of this division that much valuable material can be furnished in 

 this direction by the occasional issuance of a bulletin especially adapted 

 to help forward the line of botanical work for teachers and students. 



In the hope that this may be the result, the present paper is dedicated 

 to the agricultural colleges of the country. 



