262 rROCEEDINGS OF THE ClUI5 



to the Museum is under construction. A stable, toolhouse, etc., 

 have been built. The range of Horticultural Houses is planned 

 to contain thirteen rooms ; the contract for seven of these has 

 been signed and ground was formally broken for them on Jan- 

 uary 3, 1899. Important work has been done toward improving 

 the drainage of the Herbaceous Grounds, and considerable grad- 

 ing and the terraces about the Museum have been begun. The 

 Lorillard Mansion is now used as a police station house, occupied 

 by more than sixty- five officers, making a new and wholesome 



water supply necessary. 



The Museum is planned to provide in the basement a lecture- 

 room seating 900 ; on the first floor a collection of plant-products, 

 with models and photographs : on the second, a scientific collec- 

 tion including a mounted collection of the local flora on swinging 

 panels ; followed by herbarium and laboratories on the top floor. 



The herbarium already Includes 30,000 specimens besides the 

 Ellis collection. Through the liberality of Mr. Cornelius Van- 

 derbllt, Mr. and :\Irs. A. A. Heller are now making collections in 

 Porto Rico. Messrs. P. A. Rydberg and I':rncst Bessey made col- 

 lections in 1897 in IMontana, through the liberality of Mr. W. ¥.. 

 Dodge. The results will soon appear as a Flora of Montana, forming 



the first volume of the Memoirs of the New York Botanical Garden. 

 In discussion following it was stated that the deciduous trees- 

 planted are mainly on the east side of the Bronx River, about 5 of 

 each species, allowing for survival of 2, 3 or 4, besides increased 

 numbers of very rare trees and numerous trees planted for orna- 

 ment. The stages of the bog-gardens will supply opportunity for 

 comparative study of sub-aquatics by planting different examples of 

 a species In varying conditions of moisture. The Bronx River has 

 recently been occupying three different shallow channels, which 

 would overflow when slightly obstructed. As a result, in April, 

 1898, there was four inches of water standing in certain low 

 grounds of the north meadow for parts of two days. Since then 

 the main channel has been deepened 18 inches, and the others 

 closed by a stone dam. This may prevent a recurrence. In Its. 

 75 to 90 feet head of water-pressure, the Bronx Park Botanical 

 Garden Is very fortunate ; that at Kcw has to pump its \\-ater to a 



water-tower. 



Adjournment followed. 



