51 



" In July " [1837 | , writes Darwin in his Autobiography, " opened 

 first note book on transmutation of species. Had been greatly 

 struck from about the month of previous March on character of 

 South American fossils, and species on Galapagos Archipelago. 

 These facts (especially latter), origin of all my views." 



Dr. Svenson, by his previous study of the plant life of these 

 Islands, is peculiarly fitted to undertake the comparative studies 

 now contemplated, which should throw light on problems connected 

 with geographical distribution, which Darwin ret erred to elsewhere 

 as " The almost keystone of the laws of creation." 



Dr. Svenson will sail on January 31, on the S. S. Santa Elena, 

 of the Grace Line, for Ecuador. He plans to return about the 

 first of May, 1941. 



The Plantations 



Approaching Maturity. — The development of the plantations 

 and grounds did not begin until the spring of 1911, as the property 

 was not actually assigned by the City to our Board until January 

 of that year. On much of the area there was little or no topsoil, 

 and the larger part of the first and second seasons (1911, 1912) 

 was devoted to grading operations, and the securing of topsoil 

 largely by agricultural methods, as described in the annual reports 

 for those years. For a number of years it was quite evident to 

 all that the garden was in the early stages of development. Dur- 

 ing 1940 the feature that impressed both officials and visitors was 

 the mature appearance of the plantations, especially as evidenced 

 by the trees and shrubs, which are now approaching mature size, 

 and some of which have already attained it. 



No new gardens have been added in 1940 to the twenty listed 

 in the new Guide to the Grounds. The principal items of main- 

 tenance and new work are recorded in the appended report of the 

 horticulturist, Mr. Free. 



Resurfacing the paving of a portion of the walks, by the De- 

 partment of Parks with the aid of WPA labor, has helped to 

 remedy a serious condition of long standing. Work began on 

 August 27 and was completed September 4. It was considerably 

 interfered with by rain. In all about 3,060 square yards were 



