THE mSSOUEI BOTANICAL GAEDEN. 



FIRST ANNUAL REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR, FOR 1889. 



SUBMITTED TO THB TRUSTEES, JAN. 14, 1890. 



To the Trustees of the Garden: 



In accordance with the rules and regulations of the Board 

 of Trustees, I respectfully submit the following report on 

 the condition and prospects of the Botanical Garden, and 

 of the School of Botany therewith connected. 



On assuming control of the Garden, on the 12th of Sep- 

 tember last, I found that much work was necessary to 

 place many parts of the establishment in repair so as to 

 insure their preservation; and for this reason, as well as to 

 secure the completion of unfinished work of various sorts, 

 a much larger force of laborers has been employed during 

 the winter than has been customary, the unusually open 

 season rendering it possible to continue out-of-door work 

 without interruption up to the present time. As a result 

 of the work already done or now under way, the garden 

 and its surroundings will by the opening of the next season 

 be in unusually good repair, though there will still remain 

 many things needing attention in the near future. 



Very much of the ground occupied by the garden is wet 

 and spongy, owing to a stratum of clay not far below the 

 surface. To put it into the best condition for cultivating 

 plants that are desirable for the grounds, and, incidentally, 

 to preserve many of the coniferous trees now growing, ex- 

 tensive draining, in addition to that done during the life of 

 Mr. Shaw, is an imperative necessity. Some of this work 

 has already been done, but much remains for the future. 



Some of the hedge-rows in the garden, in bad order, or 

 composed of undesirable shrubs, are being gradually re- 

 placed by new plants of suitable varieties. For the most 



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