THE MISSOURI BOTANICAL GARDEN. 



20I 



scribed by this board in pursuance of the trusts declared in said will.' 

 Under its organization, the board holds monthly meetings for the 

 transaction of business connected with the management of the large 

 endowment property which at the time of Mr. Shaw's death was 

 appraised at not far from a million and a third dollars, and which is 

 now carried on the books as $1,588,274.60 and the consideration of 

 current administrative details of the Garden. The board consists of 

 some of the most representative citizens of St. Louis, and is possessed 

 of the fullest confidence of the community, as is shown by the attitude 

 of the courts, when, as has several times proved desirable, instructions 

 have been asked on questionable points, or special powers requested. 

 The most notable instance of this is afforded by a request of the board 

 for power to sell certain endowment real estate left by Mr. Shaw and 

 distinctly made inalienable by the terms of both the enabling act and 

 his will, but which was found incapable of utilization for long-term 

 residence leases, as contemplated by him, because of the unwillingness 

 of American home builders to make use of leased ground. Notwith- 

 standing the clear provisions against the alienation of real estate, the 

 courts, being convinced that these provisions brought a detail of the 

 will into conflict with its purpose, 

 granted the desired permission 

 after full consideration of the 

 question in both the lower and 

 supreme court. By the provision 

 of small committees charged with 

 specific duties, the board is able to 

 give remarkably detailed care to 

 the many phases of its trust, and 

 from month to month the plans of 

 the director for the administration 

 of the establishment are passed in 

 review and provided for by suitable 

 appropriation of funds. 



In the development of the Mis- 

 souri Botanical Garden, two distinct 

 periods are already distinguishable: a first, now drawing to an end, 

 in which, because of the unproductiveness of a very large part of the 

 endowment property, and the need of protecting the latter by the 

 accumulation of a reserve fund sufficient to cover improvement costs 

 that might at any time be assessed against it, little could be hoped for 

 except the bare maintenance of the institution on the lines indicated 

 by its founder, which, having been inaugurated by him only in part, 

 at once increased the expense of maintenance considerably beyond the 



A Carnivorous Plant Drosera brevifolia. 



