(2 3 8) 



number of species in the nurseries, not represented in other 

 collections, is about 1,000. 



7. The Public Conservatory Collections. The number of 

 species growing in the great greenhouses has increased dur- 

 ing the year through gifts, exchanges and the work of our 

 expeditions from about 1,800 to 3,400; the collection natur- 

 ally continuously occupies more space by growth, so that 

 for these reasons the houses have now become fairly well 

 filled, crowded, indeed, in some places ; the additional houses 

 now nearing completion are thus very welcome. The ar- 

 rangement of the groups mentioned in my last annual report 

 has been changed only in details. Many duplicates have 

 been sent to other institutions, and many still remain available 

 for exchanges. Some specimens received in bad order have 

 been rejected, but, on the whole, our gardeners have suc- 

 ceeded wonderfully well in bringing such a necessarily hetero- 

 geneous collection into good condition. The operation of the 

 new houses will now necessitate and permit an entire re- 

 arrangement of these collections ; a detailed plan for this 

 has been elaborated, taking into account the practically doubled 

 variety of temperature and humidity conditions which the 

 range will afford and which will enable better cultural re- 

 sults to be reached than has hitherto been possible for lack of 

 such varied conditions. The care of the conservatory collec- 

 tions has been accomplished by a foreman gardener, seven 

 gardeners and two apprentices ; this force must ultimately be 

 doubled. 



The primary stocking of the conservatories was greatly 

 aided by a special fund subscribed for this purpose in 1900 

 and 1901, as follows : 



D. O. Mills 250.00 



Samuel Hcnshaw 25.00 



Charles F. Cox 50.00 



N. L. Britton 100.00 



J. Pierpont Morgan 100.00 



Andrew Carnegie 250.00 



Very Rev. E. A. Hoffman 50.00 



