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spring, remains about the same as last year. The aspect of 

 this collection must constantly change, owing to the insta- 

 bility in this climate of many species which are but imper- 

 fectly adapted to their new environment. 



The vigorous growth of the shrubs in the fruticetum, and 

 the crowding consequent thereupon, has made desirable a 

 complete rearrangement of this collection. Experience has 

 shown that for systematic collections it is better to treat each 

 shrub individually, keeping a cultivated circle around it, 

 instead of massing in beds. The cost of maintenance will 

 not be thus increased, and the availability of the collections 

 for the purposes of scientific work and for general inspection 

 will be much enhanced, as the shrubs will be planted far 

 enough apart to allow of freely passing among them. In 

 accordance with this plan a beginning was made late in the 

 fall, and the following families rearranged: willow, birch, 

 beech, elm, mulberry, crowfoot, cercidiphyllum, barberry, 

 strawberry-shrub, and a part of the roses. Eighteen spe- 

 cies of willows were moved into the collection from the 

 nursery, but otherwise it remains about as it was the previous 

 year. 



The salicetum, deciduous aboretum, viticetum and the 

 pinetum remain about as they were, awaiting the completion 

 of roads and paths before active work on them is begun. 



Propagating Houses and Nurseries. 



The usual horticultural and experimental work has been 

 carried on here, one house and portions of the nurseries, as 

 was the case last year, having been given exclusively to this 

 latter purpose. The enlargement of the collections and the 

 increased activity in the experimental work has added consid- 

 erably to the work, and has more than crowded these houses, 

 and made the early completion of this range much desired. 

 These houses must accommodate not only the results of con- 

 stant propagation, but must serve also as store-houses for the 

 reception of such plants from the large conservatories as need 

 rest or special treatment. 



