We 
men to make the general public understand what they were doing, 
has held back the appreciation of botany and other sciences for a 
long time in this country. Dr. Gager helped bring happier co- 
operation between the scientific botanist, the skillful horticulturist, 
and the large public that cares for gardening only in a very mild 
way. 
Dr. Gager came to Brooklyn on July 1, 1910. First he had a 
small office down town. Later he moved to the Brooklyn Mu- 
seum, for the Botanic Garden was chartered as a subdivision of the 
Brooklyn Institute of Arts and Sciences. The development work 
in the garden began in April, 1911. The public was admitted in 
May 1911 when there was little to be seen in the way of accom- 
plishment except a few paths and trees. In September, 1913, the 
first part of this building was opened for use and Dr. Gager and 
staff moved in, although the building and conservatories were not 
completed until 1917. 
I give this brief introduction as a background against which to 
sketch the work of Dr. Gager, which I should like to consider 

under four different headings. 
1. Development of the Garden. 
2. Popular Education. 
3. The Promotion of Research. 
4, Cooperation with Botanical and Horticultural Organizations. 
(1) Development of the Garden. Many of us who love trees, 
shrubs, and flowers, wish to have them displayed in crowded cities 
for the inspiration and pleasure of the public. It is quite natural 
that, to us, Dr. Gager’s work in building up, on a piece of unde- 
veloped land, this beautiful 50 acre garden, should come first. 
He, of course, had the benefit of the experience that had been 
gained in the pioneer gardens of the country. It was early evident, 
however, that he brought here a new point of view. This was the 
desire to make the gardens popular with the general public and to 
have the plants seen by many thousands of people rather than by 
just a handful of students. 
Most of the botanical gardens in the old world were very small. 
They were primarily for the advanced student. The plants of the 
various botanical families were crowded closely together so that 
