20 



The preHminar\' estimate of cost ol" the three ^-ates, ineliuhn:^" 

 arehitects eommissioii, is as lohows: 



Nortli Washington Avenue ( iate $ 8,800.00 



Sculh Washington Avenue (iaie 8,910.00 



Eastern Parkway Gate 50,600.00 



DouhJhuj iJic Value of a Gift 



Pul)lie institutions, sueh as botanic _t;'ar(lens, nuisennis, eolle.^es, 

 and inii\-(M-sities, need not oid\- funds I)Ut friends, assurance of 

 appreciation, encoura.ii'cmenl, and a s\nipathetic. intelligent mi- 

 derstandino- of aims and needs. The "endowment" of an in- 

 stitution is never eomi)]etel\- ex|)resse(l in terms of dollars and 

 cents. The lirookKu jjotanic (larden has been l)ounti fully 

 blessed with this combination of material and moral support. The 

 value of practically all of our benefactions, includino- these " im- 

 portant gifts " and others acknowledged in this re])()rt, have in 

 this way been more than doubled. Thus, in the corres])ondence 

 olTering to provide funds for the bridi^es, Mr. Jenkins writes: 

 " I feel certain that these improvements will add to the beauty 

 of our ( harden, and x'ou ma}' be assured that it is aftordini;- me 

 much pleasure to be the instrument in takiui^- care of the-^e re- 

 (luirements." Jn another letter: "The b'rooklyn I'otanic (iarden 

 deserves su])port and 1 am glad to be in a ])osition to help alon;;-. 

 ... It ma}' be my activity will lead some other residents to s]XMid 

 their moncv in this wav, for the further embellishment of the 

 Garden lo the benefit of the fieiieral juil'lie." And again: ".I am 

 indebted to vou for the o])])ortunitv to make this contribution to 

 the Brookl}'n Botanic Garden, which is luidoubtedly doing }'eo- 

 man's service in the interest ol the general ])ublic and oiuihl to 

 he uiore (/eiierouslx supported." (All italics in these (juotations 

 are by the editor.) 



In remitting the $150.00 for the seat of the Garden Teachers 

 .\ssociation, the treasurer of the Association writes: "The seat, 

 as a gift, is only a slight token of our great love for the Garden, 

 and of our appreciation for all the help extended to both teachers 

 and pupils throughout the year." 



Similar expressions, gi\-eu orall\-, accompanied most of the other 

 gifts listed above. 



