28 MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY 



serve as a demonstration to the public of what may be aceompUshed 

 in the growing of useful and ornamental plants. Four sample 

 back yards of varying size and treatment are included, and plans 

 for the future contemplate the addition of various other features 

 for which there seems to be a demand. 



Within the last three years about 100,000 square feet of display 

 greenhouses have been added, within which are maintained perma- 

 nent collections of palms, economic plants, ferns, desert plants, 

 cycads, orchids, etc. There is a floral display-house, 200 x 50 feet, 

 where a continuous flower show is maintained from October to 

 July. This house is admirably adapted for the purpose and proba- 

 bly nowhere else in the country does the public have an opportunity 

 for seeing such an exhibition of blooming plants. Next spring 

 this house is to be devoted to a typical Shakspearean garden with 

 beds, hedges, trellises, fountains, garden furniture, and plants 

 mentioned by Shakspeare, and will duplicate as nearly as possible 

 the Elizabethan garden of three hundred years ago. 



In addition to the outdoor and indoor collections of plants, the 

 garden maintains one of the best botanical libraries and herbariums 

 in the United States, and these two features serve as most important 

 adjuncts to the Shaw School of Botany which, with adequate labo- 

 ratory facilities, devotes its principal endeavor to the training of 

 graduate students in botany, these students receiving their master's 

 or doctor's degree from Washington University. This school, 

 although largely maintained by the funds of the garden, is a depart- 

 ment of Washington University. A small experimental greenhouse, 

 just completed near the laboratory, provides the necessary working 

 space for the graduate students. Under this greenhouse there are 

 cellars, devoted to the experimental side of mushroom growing, 

 as well as a large pit in which investigations concerned with the 

 rotting and destruction of timber are carried on. 



The small museum and library building, erected by Mr. Shaw, 

 is now devoted to a remarkably fine collection of specimens illus- 

 trating the diseases of wood, and from time to time special exhibi- 

 tions of special interest are shown here. 



In addition to the graduate students, a school for gardeners is 

 maintained, which, because of the unique opportunities available, 

 and the special character of the work, is perhaps not to be equaled 



