52 
assistants, laboratory equipment, and herbarium and_ library 
expansion. 
It is now coming to be generally recognized that a great op- 
portunity for leadership has come to America as a result of the 
world war. Science in general, and botanical science in par- 
ticular, share in this opportunity, and the close of the war should 
find such institutions as ours with plans matured to meet it, and 
ready to carry forward the work already initiated. 
Attention has already been called in previous reports to our 
need of a new fence to enclose the Garden, suitable entrances, a 
plentiful number of attractive seats in all parts of the grounds, 
and several other items of a like nature. The beauty and in- 
terest of our grounds may also be greatly enhanced by placing, at 
various effective points, busts of botanists and of benefactors of 
the Garden, memorial seats, and other incidental pieces of sculp- 
ture and architecture. A number of drinking fountains, of the 
bubbler type, should be provided for the comfort of our visitors. 
To complete the esplanade, a water basin and fountain are needed 
at the lower end. It could be supplied with water from the pro- 
posed basin and fountain at the museum embankment at the upper 
end. The construction of the inner walks along either side of the 
esplanade, and the planting parallel thereto also remain to be 
done. 
Acknowledgments 
The greatest value of all gifts to such institutions as ours is 
the evidence they afford of interest in our work, sympathy with 
our aims, and a disposition to cooperate toward successful ac- 
complishment. From this angle, small gifts are as valued as 
larger ones. Individual gifts have been acknowledged during the 
year, as received, with the thanks of the trustees, and are enumer- 
ated in the appended reports of the curators and the librarian. It 
is a pleasure to record here renewed expressions of appreciation 
on behalf of the director and staff. Donations to the Botanic 
Garden Collections Fund, 1917, from the following, have not 
elsewhere been publicly acknowledged. 
