SUNSHINE AND FLOWERS. 3H9 



suffering-, daily thanks God that her "life has fallen in pleasant 

 places." 



" I know not what the future hath 

 Of marvel or surprise, 

 Assured alone that life and death 

 His mercy underlies. 



And if my heart and flesh are weak 



To bear an untried pain, 

 The bruised reed He will not break. 



But strengthen and sustain." ( Whittier.) 



MISSOURI BOTANICAL GARDEN. 



PROF. H. C. IRISH. 

 (Read before the Missouri State Horticultural Society.) 



This garden was founded and endowed by Henry Shaw and holds 

 a unique place among American institutions of learning. First, im- 

 provements were made by Mr. Shaw for his home, a few acres only 

 being improved and beautified for his own pleasure. As these acres 

 grew more attractive, the public took so much interest in the place 

 that, about 1858, Mr. Shaw decided to convert them into a scientific 

 institution. About the same time he secured from the state leg-isla- 

 ture an act enabling him to place the garden under the management 

 of a board of trustees. From this time the garden made a systemat- 

 ic and steady advancement under the direct supervision of the 

 founder until the time of his death. In 1866 Mr. Shaw established a 

 park adjacent to the garden, which he deeded to the city on condi- 

 tion that a certain sum of money be given annually for improve- 

 ment and maintenance. This covered a tract of 300 acres — what is 

 now known as Tower Grove Park. In 1883 Mr. Shaw established a 

 school of botany as a department of Washington University. 



Mr. Shaw died in 1889 and left most of his estate, appraised at one 

 and a third million dollars, as an endowment of the garden, mostly 

 in real estate. There are fifteen trustees who perform their duties 

 without compensation. Gardening operations are in immediate 

 charge of a director, assisted by a head gardener, botanical and hor- 

 ticultural assistant. The garden proper contains forty-five acres, 

 divided into decorative portion, arboretum, fruiticetum and vegeta- 

 ble gardening. Among- the many features is what is known as 

 "Grandmother's Garden" — a collection of many of the hardy, old- 

 fashioned plants; also ponds in which water plants are grown, and 

 several rockeries. 



By direction of Mr. Shaw's will six scholarships were established 

 by the trustees, and, at first, a course of study arranged for six years, 

 afterwards changed to four. Each student has a cash allowance of 

 $200 the first year, $250 the second year and $300 for each succeeding- 

 year. One position is filled by the nominee of »the Missouri State 

 Horticultural Society, one of the St. Louis Florists' Club, and the re- 

 maining four by competitive examination. All must be young men 

 between the ages of fourteen and twenty years |of age, of good char- 

 acter and possess at least a good elementary English education. 

 The regular course of study requires nine or ten hours of manual 



