The substance of the following paper was given by George V. Nash, 

 during the course of an inspection, by members of the Conference, of 

 the collections of the New York Botanical Garden, at the conclusion of 

 the Conference : 



Observations on Hardiness of Plants Cultivated at 

 the New York Botanical Garden. 



BY GEORGE V. NASH, 

 New York Botanical Garden. 



During a number of years past there have been grown in 

 the collections of the New York Botanical Garden a large num- 

 ber of species and varieties of shrubs and conifers, and it is ob- 

 servations made upon these that it is desired to place on record 

 here. The unusually severe winter of 1903-1904 will long be 

 remembered by plant lovers in this region, and it has been 

 thought best to disregard in great measure the effects produced 

 by that extraordinary test, considering the various species from 

 the standpoint of their adaptability to ordinary conditions. A 

 detailed account of the effects of this winter upon the shrubs 

 at the Garden was given in the Journal of the New York Botan- 

 ical Garden for July, 1904. 



The collection of shrubs which forms the basis of most of 

 the conclusions offered below is located on a flat plain to the 

 northeast of the Museum Building. Here have been brought 

 together over fourteen hundred plants, representing about six 

 hundred species and varieties. The soil is rather light and is 

 underlaid with gravel, so that drainage conditions are excellent. 

 On opposite sides of this tract are depressions of considerable 

 extent, markedly lower than the surface of the plain, thus insur- 

 ing air-drainage, so that masses of cold air do not collect here. 

 The region is, however, subject to the sweep of the cold winter 

 winds, excepting in the vicinity of a boundary border and bridge- 

 approach on the northwesterly side. It is necessary to describe 

 these conditions that the remarks offered below may be avail- 

 able -for the use of others. 



