Vol. 3 .-N 0 . 1 . RICHMOND, IND., JANUARY, 1880. l pl K» at 
TO ALL OTJFt FRIENDS, QREETINQ : 
ANNUAL REVIEW OF BOTANICAL PROGRESS. 
ERIIAPS we cannot commence the third volume of the Botanical Index in 
a more appropriate manner than by a review of the benefits received ; as well 
as a summary of what lias been accomplished to advance our knowledge of 
the vegetable kingdom during the year 1870. In considering this subject we 
must use the word “ Botany ” in its broadest sense, and treat of the subdivis- 
ions: Agriculture, Horticulture and Floriculture, under their respective 
heads, but only as a part and parcel of the great vegetable kingdom, i. e., Botany. 
First, let us say, we are extremely thankful for the privilege of recording the fact 
that the past year has been one of unsurpassed fruitfulness to the American Farmer 
in general, who has not only been favored with an almost unprecedented yield in 
nearly all the crops, but has also been favored with good prices for the same, which 
is an unusual occurrence for the agriculturist in any portion of the world. Accord- 
ing to the Reports of the U. S. Commissioner of Agriculture, we learn that the esti- 
mated yield of the three most important crops for 1879, within the United States, 
are: for wheat, 425,000,000 bushels; corn, 1,300,000,000 bushels; cotton, 5,000,000 
bales, of 400 pounds each or about 2,000,000,000 pounds. 
Perhaps, in this connection, it may be interesting to add a summary of our ex- 
ports, for the year ending June 30th, 1879, as condensed from the Reports of the 
