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to the special fund for the use of the Scientific Directors. 

 This method of obtaining rare books was wholly successful, 

 and prices were obtained lower than the advertised ones 

 of bookdealers. Much progress has been made in com- 

 pleting the collection of the older literature, undertaken 

 several years ago, but much still remains to be secured. 

 By means of special contributions we have been able to 

 expend an average of about $2,000 a year for this older 

 literature for the past ten years, and we hope that this 

 rate of progress may be maintained. 



Like the other collections of the Garden, the library is 

 being more and more consulted by students from other 

 institutions, and the more complete it is made the more 

 useful it will be. 



Additional book shelves are now greatly needed and 

 application for such will be made to the Commissioner of 

 Parks at the earliest opportunity. Somewhat larger 

 provision for the binding of books has become necessary, 

 owing to the increase in the size of the collection and to 

 its increased use. 



Contributions of money credited to the "Special Book 

 Fund" and expended for the purchase of books were re- 

 ceived during the year as follows: 



J. Pierpont Morgan $500 



Wm. K. Vanderbilt 320 



Chas. F. Cox 100 



Edward D. Adams 100 



Miss Elizabeth Billings 100 



James Speyer 100 



Geo. S. Bowdoin 100 



Cornelius N. Bliss 50 



Adrian H. Joline 25 



John S. Huyler 25 



Wm. Church Osborn 25 



Geo. E. Barron 10 



Tames W. Cromwell 10 



