43 
be at least eighteen months and possibly longer, based on our experience 
with the present section of the building, before the new quarters will be- 
come available for us. By that time our need for them will be increased 
“The postponement of this appropriation at this time may mean the 
postponement of the completion of the structures for a period of two or 
three years, if not longer.” 
Propagating House and Nursery—My two preceding annual 
reports have contained the following paragraph: 
“Tt is already clearly evident that, within a very short time after the 
completion of our plant houses, their entire space will be needed for our 
exhibition collections, and the work of instruction and investigation to 
which two of the houses are now assigned. This will necessitate the erec- 
tion of a propagating house where the collections may be suitably prepared 
and cared for, and it will also become increasingly urgent that we have a 
garden area adjacent to the propagating house for nursery and experi- 
mental purposes.” 
The “very short time” has elapsed, and we are already con- 
fronted with the anticipated situation. We have now more plants 
for exhibition purposes under glass than can be properly installed, 
and about twice as many pupils in our classes as can be accommo- 
dated in the plant house devoted to this purpose. There is, in 
fact, hardly one square foot of space to serve the purposes of a 
propagating house. 
Need of Increased Appropriation for Maintenance.—A new and 
rapidly growing institution will, of course, have increasing annual 
needs, especially during the first few years of its development. 
The beginnings of the Garden were very modest in every way, 
modest in equipment, modest in plans, modest in size of staff, and 
modest in salaries. They have, during these initial four years, 
remained modest in every point except plans, and the enlargement 
of our plans has been consequent upon the unexpectedly large 
demands made upon the Garden by the public. Even now our 
plans cannot be called ambitious. We have indulged in no luxu- 
ries of equipment or accomplishment, and, as stated in my pre- 
ceding report, “it is only by an economy so rigid as to imperil effi- 
ciency that the Garden can now be run with the sum annually ap- 
propriated by the City.” In fact, it has been clearly shown above 
that without private contributions the necessary work of the 
Garden could not have been done. 
