BOTANICAL GARDENS 969 



use of funds. Scientific investigation and experimental work that may or 

 may not lead to "practical" results is a part of the very spirit of the work 

 of a botanical garden. It would be very difficult for a governing authority 

 or any executive officer to explain to a narrow-minded citizen who desired 

 to create trouble, why money and effort had been expended without any 

 visible result to his practical mind. 



6. A very important reason of the value of private-public control of 

 such an institution as a botanical garden is to be found in the nature of the 

 work and the character of the services to be rendered. 



The nature of the work requires scientific attainments of a very high 

 order in the various fields of knowledge relative to plants. A greater degree 

 of intelligent understanding and sympathy with these requirements is more 

 likely to be found among the membership and officers of a private-public 

 corporation than among the average municipal administrative authorities. 

 The members and officers of the corporation are more likely to appreciate 

 the fundamental necessity of securing a highly trained and experienced 

 chief executive officer and a scientifically trained staff than would be the 

 case under direct municipal control where frequently questions of political 

 affiliations enter into appointments. 



The character of the services rendered are largely instructional in 

 nature based upon scientific knowledge. It is of the highest importance 

 that the staff be selected because of their scientific attainments and be 

 completely free from any possible political influences and entanglements if 

 they are to do their best work both in the handling of the garden as such 

 and in the instructional service to the people. 



On the other hand all these possible advantages are not impossible of 

 attainment under direct municipal control. Municipal authorities have 

 handled and are handling efficiently small and large trust funds and prop- 

 erties given for various public purposes; it is possible, under direct municipal 

 governmental control to secure the direct interest of responsible citizens in 

 various public projects; it is possible to use ex officio officials on various 

 public administrative boards and it is possible to secure the necessary 

 trained executive officials to handle public services demanding scientific 

 knowledge and a high quality of executive ability irrespective of political 

 affiliations. 



EXECUTIVE ORGANIZATION 



To a very large degree the form of the executive organization of a 

 botanical garden will be determined by the stated objectives and purposes 

 of the garden. In the act of incorporation of the New York Botanical 

 Garden the objectives and purposes of the garden are stated as follows: 



