MISSOURI BOTANICAL GARDEN BULLETIN 5 
the vicinity of the central heating plant, adequate paint and 
carpenter shops, including storage sheds for glass, paint, and 
lumber. Two storage sheds, 125 x 25 feet, were likewise 
built of brick obtained from the old greenhouses, these being 
intended primarily for housing the larger apparatus, such 
as carts, spray pumps, sprinklers, etc. However, the destruc- 
tion by fire of the old stable and barn necessitated convert- 
ing one of these sheds into a new stable, for which it was 
admirably adapted, and the removal of this department to 
the new location, which had long been contemplated, has 
proved to be most satisfactory. While the destruction of the 
old stable itself was no great loss, the entire winter’s supply 
of hay and a considerable amount of other feed, as well as 
harness, two wagons, certain farm implements, and other 
minor apparatus, were also destroyed, so that the actual 
money loss, exclusive of the building, was about $1,500. In 
this connection it might be mentioned that during the year 
the Garden was visited by two of the most destructive storms 
since the cyclone of 1896. In June a hail-storm did ver 
considerable damage to the glass, and in September a wind- 
storm produced even greater loss, since not only were a large 
number of trees and shrubs injured, but there was also mate- 
rial damage to some of the greenhouses and other structures 
in the Garden. 
The area occupied by the old herbaceous tract has, during 
the past few years, gradually been converted into an eco- 
nomic garden where various farm crops and plants of prac- 
tical use have been grown. No definite plan for this region 
had ever been laid out, but during the past year the area 
has been graded, and about one-half made to conform with 
a landscape design admirably adapted to the purposes of 
such a garden. While there still remains a great amount 
of work to be done here, enough progress has been made to 
indicate what the final condition is to be, and it is hoped 
that during the coming year the plans may be carried to 
completion. This economic garden has proved to be one of 
the most attractive and important outdoor gardens, particu- 
larly for the school-children, and when completed it will 
afford a demonstration ground where may be found various 
examples of vines, shrubs, and flowering plants, adapted for 
use in the vicinity of St. Louis. 
Another improvement has been the providing of an exit 
to the north from the Italian garden. With the construc- 
tion of the new range of greenhouses it became desirable to 
have a ready means of communication to and from this 
house and the Italian garden. This necessitated building 
concrete retaining walls and a stairway, as well as providing 
