FIFTH ANNUAL REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR. 13 





As was done last year, about 1,000 of the best of the plants 

 which could be saved when the beds were cleared after 

 the first autumn frosts, were distributed in the tenement 

 region of the city through the interest of the managers of 

 the Bethel. 



In the summer a small, cheaply built plant house was 

 constructed at the rear of the main greenhouse, making 

 it possible, for the first time, to bring a considerable num- 

 ber of plants into bloom in the winter, so that during the 

 present winter more color than usual is being introduced 

 into the main greenhouse. The comfort of visitors has 

 been increased by the introduction of water closets at the 

 main gate, in place of the very unsatisfactory vaults pre- 

 viously in use there ; and the nuisance occasioned by the 

 smoke from the greenhouses has been largely removed by the 

 employment of coke in place of soft coal for all houses 

 except those heated by flues, where, as heretofore, wood is 

 used because of its special adaptation to this primitive 

 manner of heating. A considerable number of additional 

 metallic labels have been affixed to trees in various parts 

 of the grounds, and the labeling of herbaceous plants 

 has been much more satisfactory than ever before, 

 although there still remains room for improvement with 

 these. 



The average number of gardeners and laborers employed 

 has been 40, and the labor pay-roll for the year amounts to 

 $15,537.70. The minor improvements made during the 

 year have been reported to the Board in detail, from 

 month to month but they may be summarized as follows : 

 240 running feet of drain tile was laid; 18,000 square feet 

 of ground has been sodded, and 224,200 square feet pre- 

 pared and seeded to blue grass (including about 9,000 

 square feet about the lodge) ; 3,500 square feet of good 

 cinder walk was made in the vegetable garden, and 6,800 

 square feet of less durable cinder walk in the arboretum, 

 in addition to regraveling the greater part of the walks in 

 the garden proper, as a consequence of a severe rain storm 



