QBARS - v33n2 Report of American Rhododendron Society Research Foundation

Report OF A.R.S. Research Foundation
For the Trustees, Alfred S. Martin

Contributions to the Research Foundation of the A.R.S. have continued to come in since our last report which included all contributions up to the end of September, 1978. Since that time, the Foundation has received contributions of $3,332 bringing the new total of Foundation funds to $28,484. This includes the following:

Individual and Chapter donations to Jan. 31, 1979:
$26,053.00

Accumulated Interest 2,431.00

Total $28,484.00

Most of the funds have continued to come from a relatively small number of contributors and the Foundation still apparently lacks broad support from the general membership of the Society. It is very heartening, however, to note that most members who made three-year pledges are honoring these pledges. We do hope within the next few months to get out another general appeal to the membership which will review our progress and objectives in more detail than is possible here. Hopefully this may arouse additional support from members of the Society. We are very happy to report that the Trustees of the Foundation on recommendation of the Board of Directors of the A.R.S. and the Research Committee have committed $ 1,300 of the interest income shown above to a joint project with the Species Foundation in translating the Chinese Iconographia Cormophytorum Sinicorum . You may recall that this volume was originally reviewed in the Spring, 1978 issue of the A.R.S. bulletin. It is our understanding that the translated descriptions of 283 species will be included in a volume to be published jointly by the A.R.S. and the Rhododendron Species Foundation. We are happy to be able to be a part of this first joint venture of the two organizations.

There are also a number of other attractive research projects under consideration by the Research Committee of the A.R.S. including making use of alfalfa for enhanced rhododendron growth and consideration of heat tolerance factors in rhododendrons. There will be further reports on these in our next report. We do hope to make additional commitments of funds to research by that time.