46 
MEMBERSHIP 
Ata time when most organizations and institutions are reporting 
a net loss in membership it is gratifying to be able to report the 
curollment of 222 new members. This, minus 125 resigned, gave 
a net gain for 1932 of 97, an increase of 9.3 per cent. This is 
due in largest measure to the untiring and efficient efforts of the 
Membership Committee of our Woman's Auxiliary, under. the 
chairmanship of Mrs. Henry J. Davenport. The work was in 
immediate charge of Mrs. Whitney Merrill. The total number 
of members of all classes enrolled at the end of the year was 
1262, as against 1165 at the close of 1931. 
Why Jom the Botanic Garden’—One may derive certain defi- 
nite personal benefits from membership in such an institution as 
— 
a botamie garden or a museum; it is a reservoir from which each 
may draw. But an additional, compelling reason for becoming 
a member is because membership atfords an opportunity to con- 
tribute to the social resources without which trade, commerce, 
cies, society itself could never be at all. 
A botanic garden functions as a social resource in three ways: 
by extending human knowledge; by disseminating knowledge; by 
spirit. Tow essential that its equipment and administration be 
ect as possible. In the business world it is a maxim that 
— 
as per 
plant and processes must approach perfection. 
Iefheiency is equally important in the cohesive social resources 
which make society possible. Inefficient schools, museums, and 
botanic gardens are almost worse than none, for the lesson they 
teach is that everything clse is relatively less important than buying 
and selling. 
What a wonderful thing it would be if the Brooklyn Botanic 
Garden were provided with resources adequate to insure the 
conduct of its scientific and educational work with the efficiency 
f a modern factory, and the maintenance of its grounds with the 
perfection of beauty which characterises many private gardens 
where expense has never been spared. The importance for public 
education of a garden so maintained cannot be overestimated. 
There is at present no botanic garden in the United States where 
