TWENTY-THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE 
DIRECTOR. 
SUBMITTED TO THE TRUSTEES JANUARY 10, 1912. 
To the Board of Trustees of the Missouri Botanical Garden: 
The following report on the Missouri Botanical Garden 
and the School of Botany therewith connected is respect- 
fully submitted, in compliance with your rules. 
GARDENING. 
This year, under authorization of the Board, the central 
section of the Garden, heretofore, as during Mr. Shaw’s life- 
time, largely maintained in the form of narrow beds 
separated by gravel paths and hedges of various kinds, has 
been reconstructed in accordance with the plans of the land- 
scape architects of the Board; the observatory marking the 
center of a circular plot subdivided into eight sectors, 
enclosed by low hedges, separated by radiating walks, and 
given over to flower beds parted by turf. This has made 
possible the cultivation of a considerably increased number 
of flowering plants, selected with a view to securing per- 
sistent color throughout the season. Though the area here- 
tofore allotted to formal decorative planting has not been 
enlarged, the customary variation in material used has been 
supplemented by an increased display of flowering herbace- 
ous plants flanking the shrubbery backgrounds; under the 
efficient care of the Foreman, Mr. Jaenicke, notwithstand- 
ing a season very unfavorable in some respects, the color 
effect has been brighter than usual. 
As in past years, the sunken garden was occupied in early 
spring by tulips, of which 28,000 bulbs were used, repre- 
senting 225 varieties. Later the same ground was used for 
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