The Gray Herbarium.

Since September the collections at the Gray Herbarium have been increased to the extent of several thousand specimens from various parts of the world. Among the acquisitions is a collection of Central American plants, 875 in number, presented by Captain J. Donnell Smith of Baltimore. Another, consisting of some 900 specimens, has come from Porto Rico. The United States Department of Agriculture has sent 621 specimens of American grasses; the Botanic Garden of the University of Vienna, 877 Austrian plants, and the New York Botanical Garden, 561 plants from Idaho and Montana. In addition, 852 specimens from the Galapagos Islands have been sent on for the purpose of critical study.

The staff is giving considerable attention to completing the Synoptical Flora of North America, begun by Dr. Gray, and now being edited by Professor Benjamin L. Robinson. The usual amount of research work is in progress. Among those engaged in it are Professor Piper, of the Washington Agricultural College, and Professor Henderson of the Iowa Agricultural College, who are here on leave of absence, to study the type specimens of western plants in the Herbarium collection.