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REPORT OF THE HEAD GARDENER. 



To the Director-ix-Chief. 



Sir: I have the honor to present to you the following re- 

 port as Head Gardener for the past 3'ear. The work accom- 

 plished will be a memorable one in the history of the Garden. 

 In the first place, the main front and part of the lateral range 

 of the horticultural buildings have been completed, and, to 

 the astonishment of ourselves and the public, are already 

 pretty well filled with plants, nearly all donations. 



Many of these were given because their owners could no 

 longer accommodate them, having grown too large for pri- 

 vate greenhouses ; others have been presented out of pure 

 love to do something for the benefit of the Garden, and the 

 appreciation is shown by the great number of visitors availing 

 themselves of the opportunity of seeing the progress of the 

 development here. Interest is particularly shown in the 

 naming of all the plants, their arrangement, classification, 

 native habitats and family relations, this being entirely differ- 

 ent from the indiscriminate staging of plants in an ordinary 

 greenhouse arranged for display only. 



The propagating houses are also about finished, as far as 

 the present contract calls for ; these will be used for the 

 sowing of seeds, and growing of all young plants that may be 

 collected in future, preparatory to planting in the near-by nur- 

 series, or for the furnishing of permanent plants for the large 

 horticultural houses ; this will leave the main range for its 

 legitimate use, that is, only specimen plants will be grown, 

 and not too many of one species. It is proposed also to de- 

 vote a liberal space to the students for experimental purposes. 

 The heating is by the hot water system, which will be 

 operated in a large, convenient cellar, where there is ample 

 room for the storage of coal, bulbs, roots, soil and other re- 

 quisites. The potting shed is a model in its way, having 

 more benches and other conveniences than many commercial 

 places. 



