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REPORT OF THE HEAD GARDENER. 



To the Director-in-Chief. 



Sir: I have the honor to submit herewith my report as 

 head gardener for the year 1902. 



General Horticultural Operations. 



For the prosecution of this work I have had the assistance 

 of the following force : Mr. Geo. A. Skene, second gardener, 

 who has taken care of its immediate direction ; two foreman- 

 gardeners, three foremen, eleven gardeners, six apprentices, 

 one driver, and a varying number of laborers ranging from 

 five to seven. 



For the first few weeks the force employed at the conser- 

 vatories consisted of one foreman, six gardeners, and one 

 apprentice. Later, upon the completion of the conservatories, 

 this was increased. For purposes of better management, and 

 that each man in a position of responsibility might have time 

 to devote to actual work among the plants under his control, 

 it was decided to divide the responsibility and have two fore- 

 man-gardeners, one to take charge of the central palm-house 

 and of all the houses to the east, the other to control the re- 

 mainder, including also the care of the cellar and of the 

 driveway thereto. In addition to these two foreman-gar- 

 deners, seven gardeners and four apprentices have been as- 

 signed to duty here. 



For the propagating houses and nurseries one foreman and 

 three men, two of them apprentices and the third a laborer, 

 have been required. The growth of the collections and the 

 increased activity in the experimental work carried on here 

 have required a larger force than that of last year to satis- 

 factorily accomplish the work. In addition to the care of the 

 propagating houses this force has kept the nurseries free of 

 weeds and the soil properly cultivated, and has also main- 

 tained the walks and roads of this tract and the surroundings 

 of the houses in proper condition. At the approach of cold 



