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packets of seed are used in children’s home gardens. [In March 
the vegetable packets gave out and much time had to be spent 
in filling more—a great handicap to the work. Another set-back 
due to the war came through the printing company. Because of 
the priority of government orders, we were unable to have our 
seed envelopes until late August. Nearly half the filling of 
packets is usually done by children during the summer as part 
of their contribution to the Garden and for advancement for their 
honors. Since this papering of seed must be done, the Depart- 
ment has put in days and hours on this mechanical job, which, if 
not covered, would embarrass the Department’s financial budget. 
It is a serious matter for a department of education to be obliged 
to set aside an important part of a program which is essential. 
A better adjustment of work should be made so that those ap- 
pointed to educational positions should not be obliged to spend 
undue time on mechanical work. 
The following figures show something of the work accomplished 
during 1943 in spite of the handicaps mentioned. 
Study Material was supplied to 150 institutions as a result of 
224 requests. 
Plants raised in our Brooklyn Botanic Garden classes numbered 
nearly 25,000. This figure represents the work of nearly 900 
students—children and adults. Besides these, all plants raised 
in all other Victory Garden. courses are handled in the Depart- 
ment’'s instruction greenhouses. 
Plants distributed to school gardens numbered somewhat over 
1,000. These were given to help the Victory Garden movement. 
Crops from the Children’s Garden amounted in market price 
to about $1,600 this year. Our bumper crops were represented 
by nearly two tons of tomatoes, over 8,000 beets, nearly 800 
pounds of beans and chard, and over 200 pounds of New Zealand 
spinach. Only marketable crops are included in these numbers. 
Other Activities —Potted plants were given to the Brooklyn 
Naval Hospital at Easter, and a part of the Children’s Garden 
was planted with annuals which supplied a weekly box of flowers 
to the Hospital from July until October. Potted plants were 
also given to be sold at a Carnival to raise money for the main- 
tenance of the Music Box Canteen for Merchant Marine, Soldiers, 
and Sailors, and to the Brooklyn High School for Homemaking 

