67 
being extensively used by other departments, increasing their 
efficiency and saving labor and time. 
Scientific Investigation 
In October, a paper on “ The Melanconis disease of the Butter- 
nut’ appeared in Phytopathology, summarizing the results of 
four years’ investigations. The scope of this work, as well as 
the progress of other researches in forest pathology, are more 
fully outlined in the Report of the Director (pp. 27-28). 
Respectfully submitted, 
ARTHUR HARMOUNT GRAVES, 
Curator of Public Instruction. 
REPORT ©F THE CURATOR OF ELEMEN TARY 9 IN- 
SGN OR e192 
Dr. C. Stuart GAGER, DIRECTOR. 
Sir: I would like to call to your attention in this eleventh an- 
nual report, the salient points in the work of the Department of 
Elementary Instruction for the year 1923. 
October I, 1923, rounded out ten years of work in elementary 
instruction. A report of these ten years was made in the form 
of a Leaflet (Series XI, No. 10) published last October. It is 
unnecessary for me again to call your attention to the statistics 
embodied in that Leaflet. In itself it was in the nature of an 
annual report, but I would like to make this point—that during’ 
the entire year of 1923 the Department has come in touch through 
its various activities with over 230,000 children. This is not an 
attendance report. At the present time over go per cent. of the 
elementary schools of the borough have some connection with our 
work. The work of the Department has increased 33! per cent. 
during the last three years, but there has been no increase in the 
staff. 
Many educational demands have been made upon us this year 
outside of those of our regular work. On May 4, delegates from 
all of the troops of the Gitl Scouts of the Borough of Brooklyn 
met at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden. The meeting was held at 
