41 



tanic Garden at the close of 1938. The population of Brooklyn 

 is greater than any of thirty-one States. Unquestionably, ten 

 times as many citizens could afford membership, and would perhaps 

 do so if they could be made to realize how vitally important such 

 an institution as the Botanic Garden is to the welfare of the 

 community of which it and they are a part. 



Services to Members 



Among the numerous privileges of membership in the Garden, 

 listed on page iii at the front of this Re]:»ort, is participation in 

 the periodical distribution of surplus plant material and seeds to 

 members only. In his aj^pended report (p. 101) the horticulturist 

 records that during 1938 members W'Cre supplied with 644 packages 

 of seeds, and in April 3,240 plants were distributed to 216 members. 



Another membership privilege is the giving of expert advice on 

 all aspects of plant life. On April 4 Mr. Tilley. in charge of the 

 Rose Garden, gave instruction on the pruning of roses, w-ith prac- 

 tical demonstration in the Rose Garden, to more than 30 members 

 who came in response to our special announcement to members. 



Memberships were, until very recently, urged chiefly as a means 

 of securing special privileges and advantages for the member. 

 While membership retains this aspect, w'e believe it should he more 

 generally urged as also a civic responsibility. 



School Mcinbersliips 



It is a pleasure to record the beginning of mem1)ershi]xs by 

 schools. The Biology Department of James Madison High School, 

 Brooklyn, was the first enrollment, but our neighbor across the 

 street, the Girls Commercial High School, takes the lead in num- 

 bers, having taken out five memberships during 1938. In addition, 

 last April the class of June, 1940, of this school (class teacher, 

 I\Iiss Helen AI. Buckley), also took out an annual membership as 

 an expression of their pleasure in passing throi:gh the Garden 

 daily on their way to and from school. 



Membership in the Garden affords an excellent oi^portunit}- for 

 schools to record their appreciation of the extensive services which 

 the Garden renders to pupils and teachers. It would also have a 



