yA 
and the will, and the proper ideals on the part of those responsible 
for providing the funds.” 
Doubtless, a small garden, other things being equal, does need 
arge garden. But the ac- 
— 
a smaller sum for maintenance than a 
tual amount required depends upon the standard of perfection 
adopted. This is a truism; but it is one of the truisms that is not 
in danger of being stated too often. 
Perhaps it will not seem pleonastic to emphasize again in this 
report—as was done in the last one—the valuable public service 
the Brooklyn Botanic Garden could render by maintaining its 
grounds at the standard of perfection of some of our beautiful 
private estates. To do this would really not require excessive nor 
extravagant annual appropriations. The ideal has not been want- 
ing on the part of the administration, but the appropriations so far 
have been quite inadequate for a very close approximation to this 
ideal, although newspaper editorials have referred to the Garden 
as the most beautiful spot in Greater New York. 
It requires no argument to make it clear that five gardeners are 
quite inadequate to maintain properly more than 40 acres, not of 
park, but of intensively planted garden, including highly special- 
ized collections such as the rock garden, rose garden, local flora 
and general systematic sections, Japanese garden, and other col- 
lections requiring expert knowledge and experience. Unskilled 
per diem labor is not adequate for such work. 
“For the advancement of 
Scientific and Educational Work. 
botanical science and knowledge, and for the prosecution of orig- 
red subjects.” This is the real 
jar 
inal researches therein and in kinc 
object for which the Brooklyn Botanic Garden was founded, as 
stated in the Act of the State Legislature authorizing its establish- 
ment. It is to assist in the realization of this aim that the grounc 
— 
S 
are laid out and maintained as a “ botanic garden.” It is a sci- 
entific and educational institution, not merely a fifty-acre park, 
which has been committed to our care. For an effective program 
of education and research, we are quite under-financed. Without 
endeavoring to record all the facts in support of this statement we 
may note that, for example, we now have one curator less than 
we had four years ago. And yet there is urgent need of the serv- 
ices of at least two more curators, together with curatorial as- 
