'& 



115 



Miss Dorward and the Curator gave a course in Plant Propaga- 

 tion in Rumson, N. J., to members of the Garden Club. We have 

 cooperated with the New York City Board of Education in a course 

 given by Mr. Marvin M. Brooks, jointly with myself and Miss 

 Miner. This was a thirty-hour credit course preparing teachers 

 for children's garden work. It was a compliment to be included 

 by the Board of Education in their courses. 



There are many other points that might he brought up in this 

 report, but which would increase its length and only add figures 

 and details. 



The Department did its full quota and more of outside speak- 

 ing this year, the Curator alone giving 60 talks. 



There have been no changes in personnel in the Department 

 during this year. 



Respectfully submitted, 



Ellen Eddy Shaw, 

 Curator of Elementary Instruction. 



REPORT OF THE CURATOR OF PLANTS FOR 1940 



To the Director : 



Herewith I submit my report for the year 1940: 



Conifers 



During the past year I have continued to give attention to the 

 conifers. In the spring, with Mr. Free, I again visited the Mont- 

 gomery conifer collection, Cos Cob, Conn. In the fall with Dr. 

 Gager, Mr. Caparn, Mr. Free, and Miss Purdy, I visited the ex- 

 tensive conifer collections of the Cutting Estate, near Islip, L. I., 

 planted about fifty years ago. 



Species and varieties of yew were planted near the entrance to 

 the Japanese Garden. 



The late Dr. A. S. Hitchcock, distinguished student of grasses, 

 liked to say that if he considered just his personal convenience, he 

 would be in favor of " splitting " names in the grasses only ; for 

 other groups he preferred the customary names. Better under- 

 standing of conifers has made the old classification into only two 



