—16- 
report OF THE SECRETARY. 
The Sullivant Moss Society began the year 1909 with 184 members. 
During the year 17 members have joined us, 14 have withdrawn, showing a 
net gain of three, or 187 to start 1910 with. 
The herbarium has been increased by various additions during the 
year, but we hope for a much larger increase the coming year. Mr. 
Chamberlain has been especially generous with mosses for the herbarium. 
It would be very much appreciated if members would oftener think of the 
Society herbarium. 
During the two years the present secretary has held the office he has 
tried with more or less success to get in touch with every member inter- 
ested in mosses, and thanks are due to many members for help and valu- 
able suggestions. 
Of the offerings during the past year, 77 were of mosses. The offerings 
of liverworts and lichens were about as numerous. The number of moss 
offerings in 1908 amounted to 50. Of the 27 members who contributed of 
their store of mosses, five had their offers twice during the year. Three 
offerings were made by one member and three members, Mrs. Handy, 
Judge Calkins and Prof. Chamberlain had free offerings five or six times. 
The hope expressed in the last report that more members would con- 
tribute has been realized and consequently a much larger number of 
mosses has been offered. 
Many members have availed themselves of the generosity of those 
supplied with duplicates. If every member would try to offer at least one 
specimen a year as uncommon as possible— the offerings would not have to 
be confined to the few willing workers who do so much of it. Voluntary 
offers would relieve the secretary of the necessity of making personal 
requests for them. This cannot be urged too strongly. No locality can be 
found that does not contain something of interest to members in other 
places. 
Mr. Chambrlain still conducts the exchange with foreign members. 
Those desiring the offerings can notify Mr. Chamberlain who will forward 
them twice a year. It is hoped that many species from other countries 
will in turn be offered to American members through Mr. Chamberlain. 
Personally the secretary would like to see a moss exchange bureau 
established in connection with the Moss Society. Many members have 
numerous duplicates — or they can easily get duplicates of mosses common 
in their locality. They would very substantially increase their own collec- 
tions by exchanging them for specimens rare or absent in their localities 
but common elsewhere. This is thrown out as a suggestion in the hope that 
it may lead to some action later. . N. L. T. Nelson. 
Des Moines, Iowa, Dec. i, 1909. 
