38 



one hack, while the innid is filled with ambitions and plans for 

 the future. Thus, the perennial hope of the administrator is that 

 his annual report, while placing the past on record, will thereby 

 serve to reveal the nature of the future, and so bring confidence 

 and a fuller measure of approval and support. 



[deals and Accomplishments 



In my First Annual Report I outlined briefly the kind of an 

 institution visualized for the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, and for 

 thirty consecutive years I have had the pleasure oi addressing 

 "To the Botanic Garden Governing Committee" these annual re- 

 ports oi progress toward the realization oi that goal. The original 

 plan lor the Garden has naturally been somewhat modified in the 

 light ol new developments, new needs, and unforeseen opportuni- 

 ties, but the Garden as it is today— the plantations, and the program 

 of public education and botanical research — is the partial realiza- 

 tion ol the ideal conceived thirty years ago, plus enrichments and 

 improvements. All oi this has been made possible by the efficiency 

 ol a competent and loyal stall, by the financial and moral support 

 ol the Trustees and ol innumerable friends, and by the continued 

 cooperation of the City of Xew York through its various officials 

 and departments. 



Advancing under Difficulties 



( )ne could hardly have selected a more difficult period than the 

 past thirty years for the launching oi a new institution. Before 

 the first decade was completed the United States became involved 

 in the first World War; financing at once became more difficult, 

 and our energies were diverted into various types oi war effort, 

 including the plowing up of lawns and flower beds for " war 

 gardens." 



By the close of the second decade, and largely as an aftermath 

 uf the war. the entire world, as everyone knows ton well, was 

 plunged into one of the most prolonged and severe financial de- 

 pressions in all history, from which we have not vet recovered. 

 While the Garden did not lose any of its permanent funds, interest 



