169 
tion ; the stone used here is the surplus from excavations east of 
the piiblic conservatories made necessary by grading operations 
for paths and plantations. The foundations of this bridge rest 
immediately upon the stratum of gravel which underlies the val- 
ey. The contract of the Park Department for this bridge is 
with Mr. M, J. Leahy ; its design is by Mr. John R. Brinley, 
landscape engineer. 
Progress may also be reported in the work of building the cut 
granite steps at six points along the terrace of the public con- 
servatories and of the two large concrete-steel tanks for aquatic 
plants in the court of those structures, both works under the con- 
tract of the Park Department with Guidone and Galardi; the 
path approaches to this terrace are being completed as de 
as the contract work on the steps permits ; the paths within the 
court, which will surround the tanks, may be commenced in a 
few weeks, and their completion will conclude all heavy construc- 
tion work about these conservatories. 
A contract of the Park Department with Hitchings and Co. 
for the construction of the greenhouse needed to complete the 
range of propagating houses at the nurseries is nearly completed, 
and the building will be ready for operation early in August. 
Members of the Garden staff took part in the field meeting of 
botanists arranged by the Philadelphia Botanical Club at McCall’s 
Ferry, on the Susquehanna River, in southeastern Pennsylvania, 
during the week of July 4, and considerable collections of both 
herbarium specimens and living plants were obtained. The 
occasion was a very enjoyable one and may form the basis of an 
annual event, different regions being visited each year. About 
twenty-five botanists were present at the meeting at one time or 
another during the week, and much mutual advantage was 
gained by the discussion of various topics, short meetings being 
held in the evening for the formal consideration of observations 
made during the day. 
The total precipitation in the Garden for July, 1904, amounted 
to 3.5ginches. Maximum tet Detatutce of 82° on the Ist, 93% on 
the 5th, 85.5° on the 17th, 93° on the 19th and 84° on the 31st 
