FIFTH ANNUAL REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR. 



SUBMITTED TO THE TRUSTEES JAN. 10, 1894. 



To the Board of Trustees of the Missouri Botanical Garden: 



port on the Missouri 



mitted 



Henry Shaw School 







THE BOTANICAL GARDEN. 



So far as we have means of ascertaining, the number of 

 visitors to the Garden during the past year was a little 

 greater than in 1892. On the open Sunday in June, 

 14,250 persons visited the grounds, notwithstanding the 

 occurrence of frequent showers during the afternoon, and 

 on the open Sunday in September, which was a pleasant 

 day, 14,400 persons passed the gate. So far as could be 

 learned, the visitors noticed and appreciated the improve- 

 ments which have been made since last year. 



The greater part of the western side of the grounds has 

 this year been put in grass, as was done last year on the 

 eastern side, and the borders, which are arranged in circles 

 about the observatory in the center of the Garden, have 

 been also covered with turf. Notwithstanding the large 

 amount of cultivated ground thus converted into lawn , the 

 number of decorative plants used for bedding has been 

 increased, and the distribution of color through the grounds 

 has not been restricted, for in the parts of the Garden 

 referred to, these plants are now gathered in small natural 

 groups, the effect of which is heightened by their setting 

 of regularly mown grass, 

 mented on favorably by many visitors. 



Owing to the death of many of the shrubs composing 

 the hedges of the labyrinth in the southern end of the 



This change has been com- 



(ii) 



