MISSOURI BOTANICAL GARDEN BULLETIN 5 
comparable to the Rockefeller Institute which would do for 
plants what the Rockefeller Institute has done for animals 
and for man. 
Construction and Repair Work.—In addition to the com- 
pletion of the main gate, already referred to, a considerable 
number of minor construction jobs have been completed and 
others inaugurated. The brick head-house immediately to 
the east of the new propagating houses was finished during 
the year. While the heating was being installed for this 
house, advantage was taken of the opportunity to connect 
the carpenter shed and tool house, formerly heated with 
stoves, with the central heating plant. The stone wall, begun 
several years ago, designed to screen off the service yard 
from the area immediately in front of the floral display 
house, was likewise finished. The two old gateposts on Van- 
deventer Avenue which marked the entrance to the Garden 
used by Mr. Shaw were taken down and the large stone balls, 
together with the accompanying cap stones, were removed 
to the posts of the gateway in this wall. It was desirable to 
preserve these stones, since they are of some historic interest, 
one being engraved with the name ‘‘Henry Shaw’’ and the 
other ‘‘Tower Grove.’’ Concrete steps to replace the wooden 
ones leading from the pergola into the Italian Garden have 
been constructed. Permanent walks have been built through 
the arboretum, and there is now in the process of construc- 
tion a concrete bridge across the creek which bounds the 
east and south sides of the arboretum. With the installation 
of a wild-flower garden back of the pergola, this region is 
becoming more attractive to the public and a bridge leading 
from this part of the Garden to the arboretum now becomes 
necessary. Extensive improvements in the way of clearing 
up and planting have been completed in the arboretum dur- 
ing the year and it is desirable that the public now have 
access to it. A concrete floor was built in the coal storage 
pit during the summer and additional concrete benches as 
well as tanks for the storage of water-lilies during the winter 
have been built in the various growing houses. The glass 
of all the conservatories and greenhouses has been reset dur- 
ing the past year, using a new preparation which is much 
more satisfactory than putty. An unusual amount of paint- 
ing, both inside and outside, has likewise been taken care of. 
The Weather.—The year 1921 will long be remembered at 
the Garden because of the unusual weather conditions and 
