68 
During the week-end of May 14 and 15 the turnstiles registered 
38,304 visitors, a number which far surpassed any previous week- 
end attendance at the Garden. (The largest previous figure for 
a week-end, 28,662, was recorded on April 18th and 19th of 1931.) 
Phis large week-end attendance is the more remarkable because it 
occurred after the naturalized flowering bulbs had ceased to be 
attractive. The chief objects of interest were the bursting of the 
trees and shrubs into full leaf, the display of lilacs in flower in 
the Lilac Triangle, the graceful wisterias draping the waterfalls 
in the Japanese Garden, as well as the Rock Garden, which was 
then in its most colorful dress. 
The attendance at the Conservatories, which showed a large in- 
crease in 1931 over former years, increased to 123,036 as against 
112,806 of last year. 
The combined attendance at the Garden classes and lectures was 
128,982—a slight increase over last year’s—123,630. 
SCHOOL SERVICE 
Requests for study material from schools and other institutions 
have continued to show a gradual increase. During the year 5730 
dishes were filled with nutrient agar for the study of molds and 
bacteria. Teachers planning to have their classes commence the 
study of these microorganisms send a supply of clean petri dishes 
to the Garden, where the dishes are sterilized and filled with 
nutrient agar. They are then callec 
jean 
for by a messenger from the 
school. The increasing number of dishes filled by the Garden 
each year is the best testimonial we could offer that this service is 
needed. At certain periods of the year, particularly during the 
months of May (1356 dishes) and December (1056 dishes), the 
demand for this service has become so heavy that Miss Rusk. who 
has special charge of the work, would have been unable to carry it 
were it not for the timely assistance of workers from the Emer- 
gency Work and Relief Bureau. 
ADULT CLASSES AND COURSES 
During the year 1932 the Woman's Auxiliary of the Garden 
took an active interest in the courses of instruction offered to the 
public. The first class particularly sponsored by this committee 
