U7 



REPORT OF THE CURATOR OF THE HERBARIUM 



FOR 1940 



To the Director : 



I submit herewith my report for the year ending December 31, 

 1940. 



The Local Flora Section 



During the year a thicket of Rhododendron was planted on the 

 border -mound at the source of the brook. The reconstructed slope 

 was planted with Linnaea borealis, yellow lady's slippers, Chi- 

 ogeneSy Lilium philadelphicum, and other native bulbs. To add 

 to the plague of rabbits and starlings in this area we bad a chip- 

 munk who paid particular attention to all bulbs. We have now 

 achieved soil conditions suitable for a mass planting of Dutchman's 

 breeches (Dicentra canadensis) , and they should make a good dis- 

 play, adjacent to the columbines, in the spring. Additional plants 

 of mayflower (Epigaea) have been set out below the mountain 

 laurel. This winter will see (he removal of several European 

 linden trees from the Local Flora Section — the last survivors of 

 the original plantings long before the area had been set apart for 

 native speeies. 



Continuation is made of the perennial request for an extensive 

 limestone wall in the southwest corner to complete the ecological 

 habitats. 



Aside from its purely scientific value as an experimental area 

 for the growth of native plants, the Focal Mora Section has be- 

 come increasingly interesting and valuable as a place where school 

 children can see wild flowers of the New York region in approxi- 

 mately natural surroundings. In this big city where such contact 

 has been largely through picture-books, I feel that the Brooklyn 

 Botanic Garden is making an important educational contribution. 



Herbarium 



Over 1,600 herbarium specimens were mounted by Miss Elma 

 Edson. Statistics of the phanerogamic herbarium for the year 

 are appended. 



