
ate Fo ele RERUN ce ee ose ye 
51 
REPORT OF THE CURATOR OF PLANTS FOR 1918 
Dr. C. STUART GAGER, DIRECTOR: 
Sir: I take pleasure in submitting herewith my report for the 
year ending 31 December, 1918. 
General Maintenance and Construction Force 
The greatest number of men working in this force during the 
season, which lasted from March 18 to November 22, was 18-19 
for three weeks in the spring. During most of the balance of 
the season 11-17 men were employed, and the total labor days 
were 3,030 as compared to 2,956 during 1917. This slight in- 
crease, however, is apparent rather than real, as, for the first 
time in the history of the Garden, this force now works eight 
hours instead of nine. This eight-hour day became effective 
beginning May 27. 
Besides purely maintenance work, this force has accomplished 
the following during the year: Partial grading of the area be- 
tween the building and Washington Avenue, uncompleted be- 
cause war-time conditions made it impossible to get top-soil to 
finish the job; a good deal of excavation and digging of holes 
for the planting at and near Malbone Street gate; lawn west of 
the building on land hitherto occupied by war gardens, put down 
in October. 
In addition to this, general maintenance becomes more pressing 
each year as new sections of the Garden are put in condition re- 
quiring perennial upkeep. Such work is necessary, but not im- 
pressive from the point of view of new accomplishment, and is 
a regular and steady drain on our appropriations for labor. Be- 
cause the amount of this labor is still insufficient, the grounds 
have not been kept in the condition which the authorities of the 
Garden or the public have the right to expect. Not less than 
eighteen men throughout the season can bring the Garden up to 
the state in which it can be a real credit to the city. This in 
addition to extra men in the planting season of spring and fall. 
The foreman of this force, Mr. Herman Kolsh, in addition to 
his other duties, also raised sixty bushels of potatoes as part of 
