SECOND ANNUAL REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR. 19 
use in vegetable gardening aud experimental work, the ex- 
terior being left essentially unchanged. This renovation 
of the plant houses must be continued during the coming 
year. As such work is done, the wooden supports for 
plants are being gradually replaced by iron and slate, as 
far as practicable. 
_ So badly decayed is the cement in which the massive. 
wall about a portion of the grounds is laid, that in many 
_ places the structure stands almost entirely because of the 
direct contact of the rough stones one with another, and 
sparrows have for several years nested in the interior of — 
some parts of the wall. It was obviously necessary to take 
steps at the earliest possible moment to stop further 
weathering and thus prevent the dislocation and falling 
of stones and the consequent destruction of the wall. 
Some 1,300 lineal feet of the wall has, therefore, been 
thoroughly cleaned so far as the surface joints are con- 
cerned, and both sides have been well pointed with mortar 
tempered with the best Portland cement. In addition to 
this, the coping of the remainder of the main wall, — some 
1,900 running feet, — has been similarly repointed. 
The remaining surface of this wall, as well as the one 
which separates the Garden proper from the Arboretum, 
will ultimately require similar treatment; but these parts 
are in no immediate danger. In connection with this, it 
may be said that about 2,500 feet of plank fence has been 
entirely rebuilt, 4,000 feet of similar fence repaired, 200 
feet of close board fence built, 115 feet of paneled wire 
fence set, 650 feet of picket fence repaired, and 1,840 feet 
of picket fence entirely rebuilt. 
There are obvious reasons why parts of the grounds on 
which fruits are grown, or which are devoted to experi- 
ments, cannot be opened to the general public. The 
Fruticetum is of this nature, and, except during a brief sea- 
son each year, was kept closed by Mr. Shaw. This inclos- 
ure, and the vegetable garden and private grounds at 
the rear of the residence, from being so closed have come 
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