(3) 
The hemlock forest and other natural features of the 
grounds have been continually guarded. The increasing 
number of visitors makes the care of areas maintained in 
the wild condition more difficult, but up to the present 
time no appreciable damage has been done to them; it is 
desirable, however, that the patrolling of these areas 
should be somewhat increased and that a large amount of 
additional guard-rail along paths and trails should be 
supplied; nearly 4,000 running feet of guard-rail were set 
during the year to protect natural features and plantations. 
As the number of visitors on Sundays and holidays during 
the summer averaged about 30,000, these precautions were 
necessary, and as a result the damage suffered was neg- 
ligible; it appears, indeed, there is now little desire or in- 
tention on the part of the public to damage either natural 
or artificial features, which is a very great improvement 
over the condition in previous years. 
The permanent funds of the corporation have not been 
materially increased during the year, but a bequest of 
$25,000 is included in the will of the late Mrs. Maria 
DeWitt Jesup, and another of $1,000 in the will of the late 
Jacob Langeloth, which, when paid, will bring the per- 
manent endowment to about $545,000; it is desired that 
this endowment should be increased to at least $1,000,000, 
in order to further expand the botanical and horticultural 
work of the institution and to amplify the planting of its 
grounds. 
Grading and Drainage 
In the northern part of the grounds, near the Woodlawn 
Avenue entrance, where space has been provided for 
several years for surplus material excavated by contractors 
in the vicinity, over 2,000 yards of filling were deposited 
by contractors, as directed, without expense to the Garden; 
this area of about 2 acres has now been nearly sufficiently 
filled to permit its final shaping and planting, after sufficient 
top-soil has been obtained. In the north meadows east of 
the Bronx River, marshy and wet grounds were further 
