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The work of draining, removing rocks, grading, road 

 making, and preparing the ground for permanent lawns has 

 been pushed along as rapidly as the available labor force 

 would permit. 



Two of the main lawns have been graded and sown ; these 

 are already beginning to have a permanent look, having 

 been cut with the scythe and lawn-mower several times. 



The terraces on the southeast and southwest of the Mu- 

 seum Building are finished and greatly improve the approach 

 to the two wings. 



The paths running nearly parallel to the main driving 

 road are well under way, and the coming spring will make 

 them available for the use of the public. 



The rounded grass terrace east of the main drive leading 

 from the Boulevard was sodded just before frost; at the 

 foot of this there is a grass gutter to carry the water to a 

 catch basin at the foot of the hill, this doing its work admirably 

 during a recent heavy rain as soon as finished. 



The border north and south of the new station on the Har- 

 lem Railroad has been remodeled, the two loops lengthened 

 and made to correspond with the wide approach from the 

 station on entering the grounds. 



Quite a quantity of shrubs have been planted in the way 

 of groups on the main lawns. 



Rhododendrons and azaleas were planted on the precipi- 

 tous slopes south of the upper lake last spring. If these 

 prove a success, it is intended to plant the whole of the slope 

 in future with this class of plants. The expectation is that 

 the shade of the deciduous trees growing naturally and the 

 northern aspect will afford conditions favorable to their wel- 

 fare ; so far they have grown better than we expected. 



The two former swamps are being transformed into lakes, 

 by building a dam at the lower end near the Bronx River ; 

 the difference in level of the lakes will be about two feet. 

 A permanent road is being built between them. The two 

 varieties of yews planted on the ridge northwest of the her- 

 baceous grounds, have flourished beyond expectation. A 



