TWENTY-SEVENTH ANNUAL REPORT OF THE 
DIRECTOR 
SUBMITTED TO THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE MISSOURI 
BOTANICAL GARDEN, JANUARY 12, 1916 
Gentlemen: 
I have the honor to submit herewith the Twenty-seventh 
Annual Report of the Director. 
The year 1915, in addition to developing the various 
established activities of the Garden, has seen a return to the 
policy of 1913, namely, that of construction work. The 
practical completion since the first of July of a new range 
of houses, which, for the purpose designed, is probably the 
best in the country, at last provides adequate growing space 
for some of the most interesting collections of plants main- 
tained at the Garden. There has also been completed an ex- 
perimental greenhouse erected near the laboratory, which, 
while not intended for the general public, has long been 
needed in connection with the work of the students and, 
in its way, is quite as notable an addition as the larger 
greenhouses. Considerable improvement has been made in 
the outdoor plantations, as well as some notable changes in 
the conservatories. The permanent collections of both 
dried and living plants have been increased and are in much 
better order than a year ago. The library has grown along 
conservative lines, and some progress has been made in the 
arrangement and classification of the books, together with 
a start toward the subject index. The laboratory, as evi- 
denced by the number of students and published articles of 
scientific value, has had the most successful year of its 
existence. 
A most gratifying evidence of the increasing usefulness of 
the Garden to the citizens of St. Louis, as well as to the 
country at large, has been the great number of inquiries 
upon every conceivable aspect of botany and horticulture. 
Almost daily, questions are answered not only concerning 
the care of plants and trees, the kinds to grow, where they 
may be obtained, etc., but the business man is turning to 
the Garden as never before for information concernin 
technical points which such an institution, with its train 
staff and exceptional facilities, alone can give. 
(5) 
