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Pringle, for more than twenty-five years associated with the Her- 

 barium as its expert collector. During this period Mr. Pringle made 

 over twenty exploring expeditions to the wilder and less known por- 

 tions of Mexico. Frugal in his personal habits, inured to hardships, 

 and tactful with the hostile Indians, he possessed the admirable ad- 

 justment of courage and caution which made it possible for him to 

 penetrate far from civilization and secure for Harvard many hundred 

 species of plants new to science. 



The Committee would also call attention to the interest and value 

 of the extensive field-work accomplished in recent years in the 

 maritime provinces of Canada, Newfoundland, and Labrador, by 

 Professor Pernald of the Herbarium staff. The bibliographical 

 work of the Librarian, Miss Day, is also noteworthy for its extent 

 and scientific value, and perhaps especially from the fact that it has 

 become a financial asset to the Herbarium. 



About four years ago, when the old building of the Herbarium 

 had become dangerously congested and when various efforts to 

 secure funds for an entirely new structure had proved unsuccessful, 

 the Curator presented a plan for a gradual reconstruction, and 

 enlargement, a section at a time, of the old building. After careful 

 consideration this project met with the full approval of the Committee. 

 As a first step, a thoroughly fireproof wing, the gift of Mr. Nathaniel 

 T. Kidder, long a member of the Committee, capable of holding 

 about half the present plant collection, was added toward the north- 

 west, being, it is believed, one of the most perfect structures for its 

 particular purpose ever built. This was followed two years later by 

 the complete rebuilding and considerable enlargement of the two 

 lateral wings of the building. One of them, the gift of a donor who 

 wishes to be anonymous, provides ample and well equipped quarters 

 for the library of the Herbarium. The other wing, the gift of Mr. 

 George Kobert White, who has been for many years a member of the 

 Committee, contains two admirable laboratories, fullj' equipped for 

 the classes in systematic botany. 



A fourth improvement, namely, the reconstruction of the front 

 portion of the original central section of the building, is now in 

 advanced progress as the result of a recent anonymous gift for the 

 purpose. In all these separate building enterprises unity of plan has 

 been carefully maintained, so that the building, when completed, will 

 possess harmonious architectural character, as well as great safety 

 and convenience throughout. 



The Committee are glad of this opportunity to recognize the 

 invaluable services which have made possible the extension and 



149 



development of the Herbarium. The painstaking ability of Professor 

 Robinson in planning the new structure to the minutest detail has 

 impressed the Committee very strongly. No architect alone could 

 have planned for the multitudinous requirements of an herbarium 

 building and have produced results so satisfactory. 



A new policy worthy of mention has been adopted by the Curator 

 in placing a large and admirably equipped room in the second story 

 of the George Eobert White Laboratories at the disposal of the 

 New England Botanical Club for their extensive and valuable local 

 herbarium. This matter was taken up with the Committee, who 

 fully concm'red in believing it a wise measure for the mutual benefit 

 of the Gray Herbarium and the active scientific society engaged in 

 allied work. There can be no doubt that the presence of the collec- 

 tions of the New England Botanical Club in the building of the Gray 

 Herbarium will make the establishment in still higher degree the 

 resort of scholarly persons, both professional and amateur, who are 

 seriously interested in the study of systematic botany. 



The chief need of the Gray Herbarium is a somewhat larger staff. 

 The places of Dr. J. M. Greenman, who was some years ago called 

 to the Field Museum of Natural History in Chicago, and of Mr. 

 H. H. Bartlett, more recently called to service in the United States 

 Department of Agriculture, have not been filled, and in consequence 

 much time-consuming determinative work and incidental correspond- 

 ence fall upon Professors Robinson and Fernald, which seriously 

 interrupt their more scientiflc activities. When the rebuilding of 

 the Herbarium, now well advanced, has been completed and the 

 invaluable collections are in thoroughly safe quarters, it wiU be pos- 

 sible to determine more accurately the cost of maintenance of the 

 enlarged building, and it is hoped that a balance of income may 

 permit some increase of the staff'. This is the more important from 

 the fact that it would be diflicult to replace the present experienced 

 members of the staff, and consequently the training of promising 

 understudies should be begun without undue delay. 



Respectfully submitted for the Committee, 



WILLIAM ENDICOTT, Jr., Chairman. 

 EMILE F. WILLIAMS, Secretary. 



January 8, 1913. 



