45 
Inter-Institutional Membership Courtestes—The exchange of 
membership courtesies between Brooklyn Botanic Garden and 
various other botanic gardens and museums is mentioned in detail 
under the heading ‘‘ Membership,” on page 37. 
GIFTS 
A list of donors and gifts is given on pages 118-126 of this Report. 
The gifts, as received, have all been acknowledged with the thanks 
of the Botanic Garden Governing Committee. It is one of the 
gratifying features of the preparation of this Report to make 
public acknowledgment of the gifts and to give renewed expres- 
sion of appreciation to the donors. In difficult times like these, 
contributions to educational and scientific institutions are evi- 
dence, not only of public spirit and generosity, but also of a 
realizing sense of the fact that the advancement and diffusion of 
knowledge are not the least of human necessities. Men do have 
intellectual and spiritual as well as physical needs. 
TWENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSARY 
During December the Governing Committee and the Staff took 
cognizance of the fact that during 1935 the Brooklyn Botanic 
Garden will complete the first quarter century of its actual 
existence, since it was in 1910 that the land was turned over to 
the Trustees of the Brooklyn Institute of Arts and Sciences to 
administer as a Botanic Garden, and on July 1, 1910, the first 
appointment to the Garden personnel took effect. Plans were 
initiated in December for the celebration of this anniversary by 
appropriate functions during the usual week of the Annual 
Spring Inspection, May 13-16. 
FINANCIAL 
Such financial reverses as the Brooklyn Botanic Garden has 
suffered during 1934 are difficult to meet. They mean economies 
which lessen efficiency; they mean retrenchment when the whole 
situation calls for healthy growth and expansion; they mean 
economies which spell extravagance; they mean savings which in- 
volve losses and impoverishment. But, realizing all this, we 
keep in mind the encouraging fact that botanic gardens tend to 
persist, that prosperity, like light, normally comes in waves, so 
