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REPORT OF THE CHAIRMAN OF THE SCIENTIFIC 
DIRECTORS 
(Received and ordered printed January 12, 1920) 
To THE Boarp or ManaGeErRs oF THE New York Botani- 
CAL GARDEN. 
Gentlemen: The Scientific Directors have held their 
regular meetings through the year and have advised with 
the Director on many matters which are presented in 
detail in his report. In spite of the difficulties from high 
prices and the scarcity of labor, the work of public in- 
struction, maintenance, and new construction has gone on 
very satisfactorily throughout the year. The school for 
gardeners is making good progress. The character of the 
instructional work offered and the methods of handling 
the students are being carefully studied and modified and 
adapted as experience shows the need. With the provision 
of an apprentice system with part pay for a limited number 
of promising young men who desire to become practical 
gardeners and foremen of estates, we may hope to have 
the nucleus of a permanent gardeners school such as is so 
much needed and has been long desired in this country. 
The increase in wages and salaries which it is possible 
to provide on the basis of the new standard scale adopted 
by the city, supplemented by the Garden’s own funds, 
coming as it does at a time when it is so much needed, 
marks an important advance and is strengthening in a 
very essential particular the position of the Garden among 
the other great educational and scientific institutions of 
the country. Wemay now confidently expect to continue, 
in the future as in the past, to command the services of 
men of the first rank in botanical science. 
, Respectfully submitted, 
R. A. Harper, 
Chairman of the Scientific Directors. 
