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REPORT OF THE HEAD GARDENER. 
To THE DIRECTOR-IN-CHIEF. 
Str: I have the honor to submit herewith my report as 
head gardener for the year 1903. 
General Horticultural Operations. 
For the accomplishment of this work I have had the assis- 
tance of the following force: Mr. Geo. A. Skene, second 
gardener, who has taken charge of its immediate direction ; 
two foreman-gardeners, fifteen gardeners, seven apprentices, 
and from spring until cold weather set in an average of 
about eleven laborers. In addition to the above, one driver 
for his entire time and one during the mowing season were 
detailed to my department for the purposes of mowing and 
hauling; carts for special work have also been employed 
at short intervals. 
Of the above force two foreman-gardeners, nine gardeners 
and five apprentices have been detailed to the conservatories ; 
one gardener, one apprentice and two laborers (one having 
been withdrawn at the approach of cold weather) to the prop- 
agating houses; and five gardeners, one apprentice and nine 
laborers to the outside work. Of the outdoor force one 
gardener, one laborer and one apprentice took charge of the 
herbaceous grounds and of that portion of the pinetum in 
its immediate neighborhood ; two gardeners and three laborers 
were employed in hand-mowing and raking, in the areas 
other than the herbaceous grounds ; two laborers did the work 
in the fruticetum and in part of the deciduous arboretum ; 
and one gardener and the remaining laborers constituted a 
movable force which was used at various points, where most 
needed. 
Decorative Plantations. 
The completion of the four rows of trees in the front ap- 
proach to the museum was accomplished by the planting of 
the tulip trees, for which purpose places had been left at the 
