NINTH ANNUAL REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR. 13 
No marked increase or decrease in the number of visitors 
to the Garden has been observed by the Gate-keeper. On 
the first Sunday afternoon in June, which was rainy, 
6,032 visitors were counted, and on the first Sunday after- 
noon in September 14,171 persons were counted at the 
gates.* 
As was predicted last year, t it has proved necessary to 
remove many trees injured by the tornado of May, 1896, 
which were nevertheless considered worthy of preservation 
if practicable, and in a single month 55 such trees, mostly 
of large size, were consigned to the wood-pile. The de- 
struction of these exposed and pollarded trees was greatly 
increased by the unusually hot and dry summer of 1897. 
Some of the factors contributing to this great destruction 
of trees, and their mode of operation, have been made the 
subject of investigation by Mr. Norton, of the Garden, and 
Mr. von Schrenk, of the School of Botany, who presented 
their conclusions in detail before the Academy of Science 
of St. Louis.§ 
For the reasons stated in my last report,|| although some 
progress has been made in the elaboration of plans and the 
preparation for carrying them out, the Board has not yet 
felt warranted in beginning the extension of the grounds 
on the general lines then indicated; but a needed increase 
* For comparison, the number of visitors noted for the corresponding 
Sundays of previous years is appended :— In 1890, 20,000 and 3,000 (Rept. 
2: 15,16). In 1892, 16,000 and 4,650 (Rept. 4:11). In 1893, 14,250 and 
14,400 (Rept. 5: 11). In 1894, 20,159 and 15,500 (Rept. 6: 11). In 1895, 
12,921 and 80,151 (Rept. 7: 12). In 1896, 10,598 and 18,589 (Rept. 8: 17). 
¢ Rept. 8: 18. 
t The summary of the United States Weather Bureau of St. Louis for 
December shows that though, notwithstanding the dry summer, the 
aggregate precipitation for the entire year is 1.34 in. more than the 
annual average for the past twenty-seven years, the average daily temp- 
erature for the entire year is 2° F. in excess of the average for twenty- 
seven years. 
§ Trans. Acad. Sci. of St. Louis 7: Ixxiii-Ixxiv, Ixxvi; §: 25-41. 
pl. 3-9. 
|| Rept. 8: 36. q Rept. 8: 37, 40, 46. 
