the spring crops, and, in addition to these, twenty children are 
cultivating two large community lots. In addition to the regular 
class work, there are 15 older boys who are raising special crops, 
such as corn, tomatoes, and salad plants, for special study of dif- 
ferent varieties of a garden vegetable. This work, if satisfactor- 
ily done, leads to a silver Botanic Garden pin. 
The Brooklyn Botanic Garden Boys’ Club was organized April 
15. One hundred and twenty-five boys were enrolled as charter 
members. All the boys had taken one or more courses at the 
Garden. The plan for this club does not encourage frequent 
meetings ; but rather is one to interest the boys in the work so 
that as years go on a large body of Brooklyn youths shall be in- 
telligent about the Botanic Garden of their city. The director 
of the Garden was chosen honorary president. The chief officers 
were elected from a group of lads who are working for their 
silver buttons; the minor officers were chosen from boys who 
have secured or who are working for bronze buttons—all boys 
wearing the celluloid buttons of the Garden have voting privi- 
eges. 
These buttons represent different stages in the work each boy 
is doing. The celluloid button is given to every boy who works 
at all with us; that is, as soon as a boy joins a class he receives 
a button. The bronze button is won after three courses are cov- 
ered, while the silver button is the result of having accomplished 
a special piece of work which shall extend over at least six months 
of time. Several boys are now ready for their silver buttons, 
having made-a rather comprehensive study of common trees, 
shrubs, and weeds. The club meets four times a year and is 
purely to advance the interest in the boys’ work at the Brooklyn 
Botanic Garden. 
The Brooklyn Botanic Garden Girls’ Club, similar in object to 
the Boys’ Club, was formed April 22. There were one hundred 
girls in the first enrollment. These clubs are both under the 
council of the department of elementary education of the Garden 
because, although many of the boys and girls are now high-school 
students, they start work at the Garden during their elementary 
school life. 
