(179) 
before referred to, has been continued and is now essen- 
tially completed with the exception of topsoiling a consider- 
able area on the hillsides east and northeast of that build- 
ing, and a small area near the southern entrance at the 
Southern Boulevard. In order to get sufficient depth of loam 
and topsoil for future planting, over the numerous rock 
ledges, and to effect the most economical distribution of the 
surplus rock and poor soil to points where it was needed for 
filling and for the construction of roads and paths, it has been 
necessary to prosecute this work slowly and with great care. 
It is proposed to finish the topsoiling of the areas still de- 
nuded as rapidly as possible in the spring, using for this pur- 
pose soil stripped from the locations of additional paths and 
driveways, which sources have hitherto supplied all the top- 
soil that has been used in the development of the general plan 
of the Garden. 
The surplus stone obtained from the grading of the rough 
rocky hill which formerly stood in front of the east wing of 
the museum building, which had been piled by the contrac- 
tor on the field in front of that building and between it and 
the public conservatories, was all broken up during the 
early part of the year and transported to the driveways under 
construction north of the museum building, where it was laid 
up for Telford foundation. The area which it occupied, to- 
gether with the area in front of the east wing of the museum 
building left unfinished at the end of 1902, was regulated, 
graded, topsoiled and sown, and thus brought into lawn by 
early summer. 
The area from the power house to the approach to the 
elevated railway station was similarly regulated, graded 
and sown. Numerous small areas between driveways and 
paths have also been regulated, graded and sown during 
the year. 
In these grading operations a total of about ten acres has 
been added to the finished lawn surfaces, and including the 
plain set aside for the collection of shrubs northeast of the 
museum building, where road and path building ts still going 
