FIFTEENTH ANNUAL REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR. 15 
with each appointment the efficiency of the institution for instruction 
and original work may be broadened and increased. 
I am pleased to have been able to show each year, and 
to emphasize in the contrast afforded by this quinquennial 
summary, individual progress in nearly all of these specifi- 
cally named directions, and gratifying collective advance 
in achieving the broad purpose of the founder of the 
Garden. 
ORNAMENTAL FEATURES. 
The testimony of visitors shows that there is popular 
appreciation of the growing beauty of the Garden in 
which, though the area under cultivation for floricultural 
purposes has not been enlarged, varied planting alone 
makes a new impression of beauty each year, which is 
justified in fact by the yearly selection of more decorative 
species for planting. A large and continuing increase in 
the collections of certain kinds of tender plants, especi- 
ally orchids and bromeliads, makes this even truer of the 
plant houses than of the open-air plantations, while the 
provision of more and better growing-houses enables the 
gardeners to keep up a more uninterrupted succession of 
winter blooming plants in the main houses with the passage 
of each year. In one detail only, is the Garden less 
beautiful than when it came under the care of the Board, — 
for the ravages of the tornado of 1896 among the trees are 
repaired but slowly, although each year sees a betterment 
in this respect. 
During the year just closed, 405 consignments, compris- 
ing 66,790 plants or packets of seeds, were received for 
growth at the Garden. Of these, 4,221, valued at $369.85, 
were collected, and 24,310, valued at $1,701.70 were prop- 
agated by employees, the two comprising 58 of the 405 
entries; 6,103, representing 208 consignments and valued 
at $707.35, were presented or received in exchange for 
