Zi 
become evident during the past few months that many people 
have been accustomed to regard such institutions as botanic gar- 
dens, museums, and zoological parks as luxuries, very nice to have 
in prosperity, but organizations that may quite well be curtailed in 
periods of depression, the fact being lost sight of that these insti- 
tutions are part of the economic fabric of life, as well as of the 
educational and cultural. 
Tue Functions oF A BoTANIC GARDEN 
In his recent book on Universitics, Flexner notes that scholars 
and scientists should be conscious of four major concerns: “ the 
conservation of knowledge and ideas; the interpretation of knowl- 
edge and ideas; the search for truth; the training of students who 
will practice and ‘carry on.”’ If we could smash our existing 
universities to bits, says Dr. Flexner, and remake them to conform 
to our heart’s desire, they would possess these four characteristics. 
Such, indeed, are, or should be the ideals of the modern botanic 
garden. 
The conservation of knowledge and ideas is accomplished by the 
herbarium and the library. “The images of men’s minds remain 
in books,” said Francis Bacon. So do the conceptions of former 
botanists remain in botanical publications and in herbaria. Her- 
baria preserve not only botanical facts (in the form of dried 
specimens) but also, by their arrangement and the data on the 
herbarium sheets, they preserve many of the conceptions and 
4 
gC neralizations of the makers of botany. 
Between the Museum and the Reservoir is the “ North Addition” of the 
Garden hn ), fronting on Eastern Parkway. South of the Reser- 
voir is the Local Flora Section. The rectangular area is the Esplanade, to 
serve as ‘ approach to the Museum building when completed. The Lake 
and ue Garden at the right of the Esplanade, with flowering trees 
between. The central part of the Garden is occupied by the General Sys- 
oe Section. Laboratory Building and Conservatories (with Waterlily 
Pools) along Washington Ave. at right center; Rock Garden directly op- 
posite along Flatbush Ave.; Experimental Garden south of Conservatories. 
Children’s Garden and Cl hildten’s Building at south end, separated from 
Brighton Line R. R. cut by row of Lombardy Poplars. Terminal Pool of 
the Brook north-west of Children’s Garden. (By permission, Fairchild 
Aerial Surveys, Inc. No. 64528.) Cf. Fig. 3. 
