THE BROOKLYN INSTITUTE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES 
BROOKLYN BOTANIC GARDEN 
RECORD 
Vo Jue Nios 
a Brooklyn, N. 
Vol. 1 
PHIPPS HALL OF BOTANY, PITTSBURGH 
The city of Pittsburgh affords an illustration of a unique 
experiment in secondary education. Several years ago Mr. 
Henry Phipps presented to the city a range of plant houses, lo- 
cated in Shenley Park. These houses were well stocked, and 
the opportunity thus offered for plant study was soon taken ad- 
vantage of by teachers in the local high schools. Under the 
supervision of Mr. Edward Rynearson, now Director of High 
Schools, with the co-operation of Miss Jennie Gosser, Miss Anna 
M. Deens, Dr. David R. Sumstine, and other teachers, classes in 
botany were taken to the conservatories for demonstrations. This 
was part of a larger and admirable scheme of out-of-doors ex- 
cursions in connection with all the natural science classes. 
These trips to the conservatory quite naturally proved to be 
both profitable and popular to pupils and teachers alike. But 
the interior plan of the plant houses made it awkward for the 
teacher to address the class and assemble it to advantage for 
demonstrations, for standing room was afforded only by the 
long, winding walks, and this made it impossible for more than 
a minority to stand sufficiently near the teacher. Moreover, 
there was no opportunity for seating the classes. This situation, 
and the extent to which the conservatories were being thus used, 
