— II — 



There is one item I would like to bring to the attention of the Society. 

 During the war when so many journals were of necessity discontinued or prices 

 raised, our Bryologist has been published with only the unavoidable delays 

 caused by the printer and by transportation difficulties, and we have not raised 

 Society membership, nor subscription to the journal. This has been due to the 

 untiring vigilance of our Secretary-Treasurer, Mr. Chamberlain, and I am sure 

 all will appreciate the fact when it is mentioned. 



It may be that some new arrangement will have to be made if the unsettled 

 state of affairs in the business world continues for too long a time. But this is 

 in the future. 



Just at this writing word has been received of the serious illness of our 

 Vice-President, Dr. Riddle. This necessitates the election of one in his place. 

 The Executive Committee has sent out the ballot for officers for 192 1 with the 

 name of Mr. C. C. Plitt of Baltimore as vice-president, and those who know him 

 personally feel sure he will make a valuable member of the official family. 



In closing let me urge each member to realize his obligation to the Society, 

 to increase its membership, and to stimulate the study of cryptogams in every 

 possible way. More of our young people should be directed to this fascinating 

 branch of botanical study. Our public and private schools are doing more and 

 more active Nature-Study work, especially here in New York in connection with 

 our Botanic Gardens. The Brooklyn Botanic Garden has just graduated its 

 seventh class of duly qualified Nature-Study Teachers. So far the lower orders 

 of plants, have not figured in their instruction, but, perhaps in time, the crypto- 

 gams may be studied as well as the flowering plants, and at least our boys and 

 girls be taught to recognize them and be able to collect intelligently so that 

 others may have material for study. The problems of the effect on mosses and 

 hepatics under influences of cultivation could be one branch of the work quite 

 easily taken up at our Brooklyn Garden. Let us all do our part to make this 

 coming year one of progress to our Society. 



Annie Morrill Smith 



78 Orange St., Brooklyn, N. Y. 



Report of the Secretary-Treasurer. 



In submitting his Report for the year just past, the Secretary-Treasurer is 

 acutely aware that promise and performance, as regards the prompt publication 

 of the Bryologist, have been widely at variance. Delays that were most 

 vexatious occurred all through the year, and their causes seem to be wholly 

 outside the control of the Editor and of the Secretary. They constantly try to 

 bring things up to date, and still have hopes, in spite of the many difficulties. 



The balloting for the election of officers for 192 1 was much delayed, since 

 it was necessary to change the ballots themselves at the last moment. The 

 votes cast, 71 in all, were unanimous for the officers nominated by the executive 

 committee. It is a very great sorrow to the Secretary to announce that the 

 death of Dr. Riddle occurred between the time of the writing of this report and 

 the printing of the magazine. 



