47 
by a supplemental list (8 pages) of the 1g19 collections, contain- 
ing 281 additional species and varieties. 
Financial Matters 
City Appropriation for Maintenance.—The most difficult finan- 
cial situation in the history of the Garden was caused by a reduc- 
tion of $5,229 in the city appropriation for maintenance—the 
amount for 1919 being $48,000 as against $53,229 for 1918. The 
appropriation was less than the request by $21,739. Two alterna- 
tives confronted us: either to allow members of the scientific and 
educational staff and other employees to resign, or to divert 
meager unrestricted private funds from the educational and sci- 
entific purposes for which they were intended, and endeavor to 
secure special contributions for the necessary balance required 
to enable us to prevent the grounds, buildings and collections 
from deteriorating, and valued employees and members of staff 
from resigning. 
The situation was regarded as, in large measure, an expression 
of the abnormal financial condition prevailing generally through- 
out the world, and every effort was made to secure by special 
subscription sufficient private funds to supplement the city appro- 
priation so that we need not go backward, even though we could 
not make progress. This required the collection of nearly $28,000 
of private funds to meet necessary maintenance charges in excess 
of the city appropriation. 
Permanent Improvements. —Small_ unexpended _ balances 
($205.33) remain on Corporate stock and Suspense Accounts. 
On July 18 an issue of $5,000 of Tax Notes of the City of New 
York was authorized for the extension of the underground coal 
cellar from the fence line to the street curb. Plans and specifica- 
tions are being prepared for advertising for bids early in 1920. 
Resignations 
Mrs. Jean Cross Weis, assistant curator of elementary instruc- 
tion presented her resignation on July 13. Mrs. Weis (then 
Miss Cross) was granted leave of absence in December, 1918, 
for reconstruction service in France with the Wellesley Unit, 
