(2 4 6) 



sity after experiment ; water-proof shades on spring rollers 

 were placed in the roofs of two houses, and Japanese porch- 

 screens were used for the vertical sides of the palm house and 

 for the roofs of the succulent house. All this shading was 

 done on the interior, leaving the outside of the building un- 

 marred. 



The results reached were very nearly those planned for, 

 and hence satisfactory ; the year's experience has naturally 

 indicated some desirable modifications of details, which may 

 be taken advantage of in the additional houses, as well as 

 in those hitherto operated. 



A contract for the construction of the additional houses to 

 complete the range as originally planned was awarded by the 

 Commissioner of Parks to John R. Sheehan & Company in 

 May, and work was at once begun. These are now essen- 

 tially completed and are under test for heating and leakage. 

 Their internal fitting up with gravel and soil, and the spread- 

 ing into them of the plant collections may soon be commenced, 

 and they may be opened to the public in the spring. 



The defect in the floor of house No. 4, mentioned in my 

 last annual report, caused by sinking of filled ground, was re- 

 paired by the Sheehan Co., while building the walks in the 

 new houses. Two painters and glaziers have been employed 

 on the conservatories for nearly their whole time ; it has been 

 found possible, however, for them to do such painting and 

 kalsomining as has been necessary at the other buildings. 



3. Power House. The steam-heating apparatus has been 

 adequate to heat both the public conservatories and the mu- 

 seum building, as planned, holding at least one boiler of the 

 five always in reserve. During the summer an inspection 

 was made of the entire system of pipes, in the subways and 

 trenches ; it was found necessary to rebuild some of the brick- 

 work about the furnaces. The boilers have been regularly 

 inspected. The incidental repairs required have been numer- 

 ous but not excessive. The grading and road-building work 

 east of the power house have given considerable trouble from 

 storm-water which in two instances flooded the floor of the 



