8l 
Tue PLANTATIONS 
The proper development of the land set aside for Garden pur- 
poses presented many difficulties, since there were few natural 
features upon which to base any definite plans. 
As the first step, a topographic survey of the area was prepared 
by D. Barta & Company, previous to July 1, 1910. During the 
fall of 1910, the firm of Olmsted Brothers, of Brookline, Mass., 
was appointed landscape architects to lay out the grounds. The 
plan submitted by this firm was adopted in its broader outlines 
by both the Institute and the Commissioner of Parks of the Bor- 
ough of Brooklyn. 
Obviously, for the development of the Garden, it was necessary 
to provide for a staff of workers. Since the development of the 
plantations was the primary problem, the first Curatorship estab- 
lished was that of Curator of Plants. The duties were primarily 
concerned with the development and administration of the planta- 
tions, but included, also, the assembling and care of a herbarium. 
The first Curator of Plants was Mr. Norman Taylor, appointed 
on March 16, 1911. In December, 1914, Dr. Alfred Gundersen 
became Herbarium Assistant and, somewhat later, Assistant Cur- 
ator of the Herbarium. Finally, in 1924, he was appointed Cura- 
tor of Plants, taking over the botanical phases of the Department. 
From the first, horticultural activities constituted a large part 
of the work of the Department, but gradually became a much 
more prominent feature. Mr. Montague Free, in March, 1914, 
was appointed Head Gardener and in 1920 his title was changed to 
Horticulturist and Head Gardener and, later, to Horticulturist. 
Since January 1, 1927, the duties of administration and of develop- 
ing the plantations from the horticultural standpoint have been 
— 
carried on by him. 
“A botanic garden needs the cooperation of the botanist and the 
landscape architect, for it should be not only a place where different 
kinds of plants are exhibited, but where they are exhibited ef- 
fectively, and not only for their own sake (hotanically), but as 
materials for decorative planting and landscaping, 1. e. horti- 
culturally.” This quotation explains the idea which Dr. Gager had 
