28 



made, each one involving excavation for 18-24 i"-. the removal 

 of many stones, and refilhng with top soil and fertilizer. The 

 beds were also replanted and labelled. In the new beds provision 

 is made for additional hardy asters and also for a representative 

 collection of Dahlias. 



Children's Garden. — About 50 Paul's Scarlet Climber roses 

 were planted last spring along the east border of the Children's 

 Garden. These will not only beautify the Garden, but will 

 serve to screen out the Brighton Line railroad cut which passes 

 here. 



A new porch and approach walk of red tapestry brick have 

 greatly improved the west front of the Children's Building. 



Iris Garden. — Many new varieties, especially of Japanese 

 forms, have been added, and two new beds made. 



Top-soiling and Grading. — About three acres of the Garden 

 still remain under the plow owing to shortage of labor. This 

 is the area between the museum building and Mt. Prospect 

 reservoir, fronting on Eastern Parkway. 



International Seed Exchange 



The reports on the International Seed Exchange by the 

 curator of plants (p. 49) and the horticulturist and head 

 gardener (p. 54), are worthy of note. Correspondence with 

 other gardens by the curator of plants has revealed a very 

 general desire for uniformity in nomenclature in place of the 

 present diversity. Over 4,600 packets of seeds of nearly 900 

 species were sent to foreign gardens during 1924. 



Conservation of Native Plants 



During the year 1 924 there has been considerably activity and 

 progress in connection with the program for the conservation of 

 native plants. During March an amendment to the Con- 

 servation Law of New York State was proposed and introduced 

 in the State Legislature. By the terms of the proposed amend- 

 ment native plants were to be recognized in the Conservation 

 Law of the State as deserving protection on somewhat the same 

 basis as that which now applies to wild animals. The amend- 

 ment related to the so-called "Private Parks" Section of the 



