FIFTEENTH ANNUAL REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR. 35 
and have received certificates attesting this fact, and a 
number of others have taken a part of the work, several 
of them without the advantage of scholarship grants. 
Most of these pupils who have completed or largely per- 
formed the work offered, have left the Garden for useful 
positions; and the development of the earlier graduates of 
the school of gardening gives, each year, increasing and 
gratifying evidence of Mr. Shaw’s wisdom in providing 
for it. 
THE GARDEN STAFF. 
At the beginning of the year, Mr. James Gurney, who 
for many years before Mr. Shaw’s death was his Head 
Gardener, and had continued in that capacity since the 
establishment of the Garden on its present basis, retired 
from active service on account of his advanced age. By 
action duly sanctioned by the Board, he has been made 
Head Gardener Emeritus, with merely nominal advisory 
duties, and has thus been given opportunity to devote to 
the improvement of decorative plants, the larger part of 
the time formerly employed in looking after the details of 
gardening. 
On the retirement of Mr. Gurney from active service, 
the office of Superintendent was created, and Mr. H.C. 
Irish, who for a number of years has been Horticultural 
Assistant at the office, was appointed to this new position, 
with responsibility for the general maintenance of the 
property in addition to the details of gardening, instruc- 
tion of pupils, and horticultural research, in all of which 
he has rendered most efficient service. 
In the autumn, Dr. Harris resigned his position as 
Botanical Assistant, to accept an instructorship in the 
School of Botany of Washington University, and his place 
was taken by Mr. Aaron G. Johnson, a student in the 
South Dakota Agricultural College. Mr. C. E. Hutchings 
