Increase in the Number of Adult Students 



The total number of adults registered in our courses during 

 192; was 372. Of these, 244 were new. As in other years, it 

 is gratifying to note that a large proportion of these learned of 

 our courses through their friends who had Keen former students. 

 The growth of this part of our work for the last five years is 

 shown by the following: 



These figures represent the total number of different students 

 only. For example, in 1927, the total registration of adults was 

 440, since some students elected more than one course. 



New Courses 



Several new adult courses were given in 1927. Dr. Gunder- 

 sen's " History of Botany," a new course of three lectures, on 

 Fridays, beginning March 4, was enthusiastically received. Dr. 

 Gundersen's new held course, given on the grounds of the Garden, 

 and entitled " Fall Flowers, Fruits and Seeds," also proved 



After a few preliminary exercises in the spring, at the sug- 

 gestion of Miss Margaret S. Belyea, director of nursing, Prospect 

 Heights Hospital and Brooklyn Maternity, and Miss Corcoran, 

 Instructor of Nurses, a special course for nurses was given by the 

 Curator of Public Instruction, beginning in September, and con- 

 sisting of ten weekly lessons on plant life, with especial considera 

 lion nt olliniul pl.iuts, and with inlormal discussions on the care 

 M plants and (lowers in the sick room. 



In the courses on the Life of Plants and General Botany, we 

 have been handicapped for some time for lack of microscopes. 

 The value of textbook work is slight when compared with the 

 benefits of the visual experience derived from laboratory work 

 with the compound microscope, where the student observes for 

 himself, draws and makes notes on the various plant forms. We 



