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on the west and Washington Avenue on the east. ‘The south- 
ern boundary of the grounds coincides with the line between the 
old city of Brooklyn and the old town of Flatbush. In addition 
there are a little over three acres in the land surrounding the 
Mt. Prospect reservoir, including a strip 20 feet wide south of 
the reservoir, and a tract 250 feet wide between the Museum 
grounds on the east and the reservoir on the west. This land 
was transferred to the Park Department for Botanic Garden 
purposes on September 9, 1912, in accordance with the pro- 
visions of Chapter 618 of the Laws of New York of 1906, as 
amended by Chapter 178 of the Laws of 1911, and brings the 
total area to nearly forty-three acres. 
The administration of the Garden is under the general 
supervision of the Committee on Botanic Garden of the Board 
of ‘Trustees of The Brooklyn Institute of Arts and Sciences. 
This Committee is at present composed of Mr. Alfred ‘T. White, 
Chairman, Mr. Albert DeSilver, Mr. Gates D. Fahnestock, Mr. 
seorge D. Pratt, Mr. William A. Putnam and, ex officio, Mr. A. 
Augustus Healy, President of the Institute, and Prof. Franklin 
W. Hooper, Director of the Institute. 
As stated in the original act of 1897, providing for the 
establishment of the Garden, the purpose of the Garden is the 
very obvious one of “the collection and culture of plants, flowers, 
shrubs and trees,” and furthermore, “the advancement of botani- 
cal science and knowledge, the prosecution of original researches 
therein and in kindred subjects, [and] for affording instruction 
in the same.” Other objects named are the “prosecution and 
exhibition of ornamental and decorative horticulture and garden- 
ing, and for the entertainment, recreation and instruction of 

aey 
the people.” 
It was the wish of those who have been instrumental in 
securing the establishment of the Garden, that, in addition to 
research work, it should, to a greater degree than has hitherto 
been realized, or even attempted by botanical gardens, engage 
in the formal teaching of botany, and that it should become the 
means of encouraging and aiding the botanical work of local 
schools of all grades, elementary, secondary, and collegiate, both 
public and private. Provision will therefore be made for giving 
