The Bean Bag no. 40

Abstract

• USDA Agricultural Research Service transfers distribution of The Bean Bag to Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. - In August, the senior Editor of The Bean Bag was notified that USDA Agricultural Research Service, Systematic Botany and Mycology Laboratory could no longer pay the costs of distributing The Bean Bag. Due to mandated salary increases without additional funding, the Laboratory no longer had sufficient financial resources to carry out its research missions and to fund the distribution of The Bean Bag. Inquiries were made at several major botanical institutions, and the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew has agreed to assume responsibility for future distribution of The Bean Bag. KIRKBRIDE and WIERSEMA will continue to edit The Bean Bag and prepare copy for reproduction. The questionnaires and material for publication in The Bean Bag should continue to be sent to Beltsville. The staff of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew will be responsible for reproducing and distributing The Bean Bag. This issue is distributed in hardcopy to all subscribers listed in the Directory. To receive future issues please make sure that you complete and return the pink form enclosed with this issue, or if you have e-mail please send an electronic message to <email> (Internet). A mechanism is now under development to supply The Bean Bag via e-mail to those subscribers with suitable facilities to receive it. Subscribers will also have electronic access to other information, such as the Directory. Subscribers without e-mail will receive the same standard of service as hitherto if they return the pink form to the Editors, but the Directory will be sent only on request.