Missouri Botanical 

 Garden Bulletin 



Vol. IX St. Louis, Mo., January, 1921 No. 1 



THIRTY-SECOND ANNUAL REPORT OF THE 

 DIRECTOR 



Gentlemen : 



I have the honor to submit herewith the thirty-second annual 

 report of the Director. 



The same financial difficulties experienced in 1919 in the 

 administration of the Garden were, to an increased degree, 

 encountered during the past year. Even after the war a 

 legitimate excuse existed for a time for failing to keep up 

 to former standards the various features for which the Mis- 

 souri Botanical Garden has become famous. During this 

 period it was possible to reduce the force, eliminate flower 

 shows, neglect outside gardens, and practice other economics 

 which released money for the rapidly increasing cost of labor 

 and supplies. During 1920, however, it became necessary 

 at least to bring the various activities of the Garden back 

 to a maintenance basis, since things which could safely be 

 neglected for three or four years had to receive attention 

 unless they were to be abandoned altogether. That the com- 

 munity and the country at large demand more of the Missouri 

 Botanical Garden than they did ten years ago is a matter 

 of common knowledge. Its activity in the scientific^ and 

 garden world lias placed it in the front rank of similar insti- 

 tutions, and it would be extremely unfortunate if, because 

 of financial limitations, the Garden were forced to take a 

 secondary position. As is well known, endowed institutions 

 throughout the country have found it necessary to increase 

 very materially their sources of income, whereas the Mis- 

 souri Botanical Garden during 1920 had less available for 

 Garden maintenance than it had five years ago. It is true 

 that the able management of the estate has increased the 

 gross income of the Garden during this period, but the in- 

 crease was more than absorbed by the necessary expenses in- 

 volved in extra taxes and the maintenance of the estate. 

 There has likewise been in this period a serious loss to the 

 income, due to the gradual running out of the clay mines, the 

 royalties from winch formerly furnished a substantial amount. 



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