MINUTES  OF  THE  COLLEGE. 
567 
The  other  collection  is,  on  the  whole,  in  an  excellent  condition,  all  the 
plants  having  been  analyzed,  with  few  exceptions,  and  arranged  systema- 
tically into  orders,  sub-orders  and  genera.  We  concluded  to  write  out  a 
full  catalogue,  which  is  now  upon  the  table,  and  subsequently  to  arrange 
into  this  herbarium  the  plants  of  the  other  and  of  our  own  collection. 
In  attending  to  this  assumed  duty,  we  observed  that  a  large  number  of 
the  plants  were  of  foreign  growth  ;  from  England,  France,  Spain,  Italy. 
Switzerland,  Germany,  Russia,  Turkey,  Greece,  Egypt,  Asia  Minor,  the 
Caucasus,  Persia,  China,  &c,  and  that  most  of  them  had  been  well  dried 
and  preserved.  There  is  a  deficiency  in  good  specimens  of  American 
plants,  though  many  genera  have  evidently  received  much  attention;  and 
plants  indigenous  to  the  South  and  to  the  West  have  been  procured. 
In  this  collection  the  College  possess  a  very  good  foundation  for  a  first- 
class  herbarium,  and  it  appears  to  your  Committee  to  be  a  duty  of  the 
College  to  improve  it  as  much  as  possible,  so  as  to  impart  a  stimulus  to 
the  important  science  of  Botany,  which  is  still  too  much  neglected  by  our 
pharmaceutists  generally. 
Considering  these  facts,  the  Committee  venture  on  the  following  pro- 
positions : 
1.  We  propose  to  create  a  standing  Committee  on  Botany,  whose  duties 
shall  be  to  collect  plants,  keep  the  herbarium  in  order,  and  place  it  in  a 
condition  which  will  admit  of  its  being  used  in  lectures  on  botany,  materia 
medica,  pharmacy,  &c. ;  to  effect  exchanges,  and  enter  into  correspond- 
ence with  individuals,  societies  and  colleges,  of  our  own  and  of  foreign 
countries. 
This  committee  should  consist  of  not  less  than  five  members,  who  are 
willing  to  devote,  faithfully,  a  portion  of  their  leisure  hours  to  its  pur- 
poses. 
2.  We  propose  that  a  good  microscope  be  procured,  either  out  of  the 
funds  of  the  College  or  by  private  subscription. 
The  College  is  probably  in  need  of  such  an  instrument  for  other  pur- 
poses ;  this  Committee  have  sadly  felt  the  need  of  it.  Acotyledonous 
plants,  umbelliferse,  crucifera3,  composite,  graminese,  juncaceae,  &c,  had 
to  be  more  or  less  neglected  this  year,  the  magnifying  glasses  in  posses- 
sion of  your  Committee  being  insufficient,  in  many  instances,  to  recognize 
minute  distinguishing  characteristics. 
3.  We  propose  that  some  new  works  on  the  botany  of  the  United  States 
and  some  foreign  countries  be  procured. 
In  analyzing  plants,  it  is  indispensable  to  compare  the  views  of  differ- 
ent authors,  likewise  to  consult  authorities  of  foreign  countries  with  a 
climate  similar  to  our  own.  We  consider  the  botanical  works  of  our  li- 
brary not  sufficient  for  the  purpose  of  a  committee  on  botany. 
4.  We  propose  to  have  a  good  specimen  of  every  species  and  its  vari- 
eties mounted  on  paper,  systematically  arranged  and  kept,  so  as  to  be 
always  ready  for  examination. 
