(8) 
these buildings are being prepared in accordance with author- 
ity already granted me. The site selected is near the eastern 
border of the grounds about 500 feet north of the Bleecker 
Street entrance, where an essentially level tract of land pro- 
vides a capital situation for them, and where the natural con- 
tour permits their ready approach by a driveway connecting 
with the main driveway west of this entrance. It is believed 
that the plans for these buildings may be so far perfected 
during the year as to make it practicable to commence work 
upon them in case an appropriation for this purpose is granted 
by the city. 
Library 
The growth of the library during the past year has been 
very satisfactory and the collection of books is rapidly becom- 
ing one of the most complete of its kind. A report of the 
Librarian hereto appended shows that 1,872 volumes and 
many pamphlets have been added, the total number of bound 
volumes now aggregating 17,629. 
In pursuance of authority granted me, a special effort has 
been made to secure works of the older authors published 
between the years 1700 and 1870. In carrying out this 
authorization, I have made an arrangement with the firm of 
H. Georg & Co., of Geneva, Switzerland, book dealers and 
antiquarians, to purchase on our account all botanical works of 
this period not already in the library, as rapidly as they come 
into the market, and transmit them to us in parcels from time 
to time; a complete list of the works of this period already 
in the library is in the hands of this firm, so that duplication 
is avoided. This action is in pursuance of the recommenda- 
tion made by me in my report for 1904, and if carried out for 
several years should go far toward completing the collection, 
though there are a good many books now obtainable only by 
a fortunate chance, and some important treatises can only be 
had either by reprinting from copies in Old World libraries, 
or by photographic reproduction, a process which is now inter- 
esting librarians throughout the country. 
This movement has been made possible by gifts of money 
