68 
were finally brought to the attention of Mr. Phipps. He at once 
manifested much interest in the work, and invited the teachers 
of botany to a conference with him. At this conference the teach- 
ers pointed out the advantage of having a room for assembling 
pupils for class exercises, and indicated the possibility of 
doing more and better work if such a room could be secured. 
The response of Mr. Phipps was prompt and generous. He 
offered to put up a building at a cost of not to exceed $20,000. 
The teachers co-operated with the architect in planning the build- 
— 
ing, and though the estimated expense as planned was $25,000, 
the construction was authorized. Before the structure was com- 
pleted it had cost about $29,000, all of which was met by Mr. 
Phipps. 
The building, which is of brick, with one story and basement, 
was completed in 1901. On the main floor are an entrance hall, 
with a reception room to the right, and a large, well-lighted class 
room and laboratory combined, with raised seats, and laboratory 
tables and chairs at the higher level near the windows. In the 
basement is a second, smaller but spacious, laboratory. The 
building closely adjoins the plant houses, and these supply an 
abundance of material for study, not only to the Phipps Hall, 
but to the three high school buildings, located in different parts 
of the city. The greenhouses, in charge of a head gardener, 
Mr. John Jones, are administered entirely at city expense. The 
head gardener is in sympathy with the high school work, and 
when any class material is needed the teachers notify him when 
it is wanted, and it is prepared, ready to be sent for by the 
school on the given date. Not only are the regular collections 
drawn on for this purpose, but germinated seeds are prepared, 
and seedlings reared to any desired stage of development. 
The class work at the Hall of Botany has assumed such pro- 
portions as to necessitate the constant attendance there of one 
of the regular high school teachers of botany. This teacher hears 
daily four classes of 35 each. In addition to this, on three days 
of the week, different teachers, from the various high school 
buildings, meet their classes at the hall, two classes of B5 cach. 
so that on two davs the class attendance is 140 and on three 
days 210. 
