(23) 
Insect pests have been successfully kept in check by 
spraying. The lakes were treated twice during the summer 
with copper sulfate to rid them of algae, the results being 
most satisfactory. Mosquitoes were less abundant than ever 
before, on account of the regular use of petroleum in catch 
basins and other breeding places. 
The living collections and wild plants have suffered the 
usual damage from lawless visitors, but this has not been of 
a serious nature except in a few instances. Only seventeen 
arrests were made the past year, as against thirty-five the 
year previous. 
Buildings 
MusEuM 
A number of new cases have been installed during the year 
to accommodate the large accessions to various collections. 
Photographs and postal cards of interest to visitors have 
been placed on sale with the guide-books and certain other 
Garden publications near the elevated railway entrance and 
in the Museum building. 
The number of visitors has perhaps been larger the past 
year than during any previous year in the history of the 
Garden. The holiday crowds are growing larger, the at- 
tendance at.public lectures is improving, and more botanists 
are consulting the library and herbarium. The various im- 
portant meetings held at the Garden also attracted scientific 
men from many parts of this country and Europe. 
CONSERVATORIES 
The public conservatories are perhaps in a more satisfactory 
condition than ever before. Considerable painting and re- 
pairing has been done both on the outside and inside of the 
houses. The palms and other tall plants have greatly im- 
proved under the new method of watering by means of a 
force pump. The large collection of cacti placed outside in 
the conservatory court on the south and the flower garden 
established on the north side added much to the appearance 
