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We welcome as our new president, one who has long had the interests of 

 the Society at heart and devoted much time and effort to its publications. 

 Respectfully submitted, 



Elizabeth G. Brixton, President 



New York Botanical Garden. 



Report of the Secretary-Treasurer 



In the Annual Report for 1918 the Secretary expressed the hope that the 

 delays in the appearance of the Bryologist could be avoided during the forth- 

 coming year. Unfortunately, it has not been possible to realize the hope ex- 

 pressed. There is a certain consolation in noting that this condition of chronic 

 delay is apparently not peculiar to the Bryologist, but seemingly affects most of 

 the magazines which come to the Secretary's desk. Nevertheless, the Secretary 

 still hopes that it may be possible during 1920 to have the issues appear rather 

 more closely on time. The period of transition through which the world is now 

 passing is, in part, responsible for these delays; another cause, the lack of suffi- 

 cient manuscript, was commented upon in the notice of the annual elections; 

 but a third reason lies in the pressure which mere living now puts upon the time 

 of both the Editor and the Secretary, as well as upon the time of each member. 

 The Officers of the Society feel that now, more than ever, they must rely upon 

 the cooperation of the individual members, otherwise the pressure of necessary 

 work will crowd out that which for the Officers and the Editor is really a labor of 

 love. 



The changes in the membership of the Society since the last annual report 

 are summarized as follows. There have been three deaths. Rev. C. H. Waddell, 

 Mr. E. C. Wurzlow, and Miss Lura Perrine, the latter a charter member of the 

 Society. Six members have either resigned, or have failed to answer communi- 

 cations, which under the Post Office rulings necessitates a loss of membership. 

 To balance these losses, ten new names have been added to the lists since 

 December 1918, so that the total membership on December i, 1919, is 143. 



The Secretary has commented in previous reports upon the matter of the 

 Offerings to Society Members, so that at this time there is little further to be 

 said. During the past year there have been in all eighteen species, ten of mosses, 

 four of hepatics, and four of lichens, offered to members for the usual terms of 

 return postage. These offerings have been put forth by seven different persons. 

 The Secretary extends to these seven his hearty thanks for the cooperation which 

 they have shown. Just the same, the condition indicated by the small number 

 of the offerings and the "faithful few" is most discouraging for the continuation 

 of this plan. Suggestions from members as to how this condition may be rem- 

 edied will be most welcome. If there is any other scheme that will work better, 

 it should surely be suggested. It is certain that the present method is not ideal. 



The financial condition of the Society is shown in the statement immediately 

 following. Taking into account that in this report there are included payments 

 for seven issues and an index for the Bryologist (September 19 18 to September 



