102 MISSOURI BOTANICAL GARDEN. 



tion in the open air in the latitude of St. Louis, are culti- 

 vated at the garden. This impression is very erroneous, 

 and it is probable that it will never be justified. The policy 

 of the present management, however, is to aim at as com- 

 plete a representation of native plants as may be found 

 practicable, as it is believed that such a collection will not 

 only be most conducive to the advancement of American 

 botany, but at the same time of most interest to visitors 

 from foreign lands, who are found to be more desirous of 

 learning the features of a new flora than of seeing in cultiva- 

 tion the familiar forms of their own. At present, it is im- 

 possible to state the number of species in cultivation in the 

 garden, but it is very considerable and receives constant ad- 

 ditions. From a descriptive list of the economic plants cul- 

 tivated in 1886, it appears that there were then in cultiva- 

 tion, two hundred and thirty-two such species. The in- 

 ventory made by the Administrator of the estate, shows 

 fifty-five named species or varieties of Agave and 106 species 

 of named palms; and the collection of cactuses and of several 

 other groups that interested the late Dr. Engelmann, is quite 

 considerable. The educational features of the garden are 

 also supplemented by the extensive variety of trees and 

 shrubs growing in the adjacent Tower Grove Park, which 

 was given to the city by Mr. Shaw; although in its man- 

 agement this park is entirely distinct from the botanical 

 garden, and primarily intended for quite a different purpose. 

 In closing this brief report, it is proper to state that the 

 management of the garden will be grateful to institutions 

 and investigators for copies of their botanical publications 

 or for additions to the herbarium, and that all feasible as- 

 sistance will be rendered in the performance of work calcu- 

 lated to advance botanical knowledge. 

 Kespectfully submitted, 



William Teelease, 



Director. 

 St. Louis, Mo., Jan. 14, 1890. 



