124 ESTABLISHMENT OF A NATIONAL. BOTANIC GARDEN. 



EQUIPMENT. 



The collection of living plants is large, 11,000 species (1916) 7 

 6,000 of which are under glass. There is a large collection of books. 

 The herbarium contains over half a million specimens. It contains 

 the herbaria of Barnhardi, Engelmann, Redfield, Reverchon, Eggert,. 

 and many other well-known collectors. Much material from Chap- 

 man's herbarium also. 



The library contains more than 58,000 books and pamphlets. It 

 contains a very large collection of publications dating from before 

 the time of Linnaeus. 



PRODUCTIVITY. 



The effectiveness of the garden in reaching the general public can 

 hardly be measured except by the number of visitors to it and the 

 questions they ask. They average over 100.000 a year. 



In research work the 18 yearly volumes of the garden report show 

 results commensurate with the opportunity. 



FOUNDATION. 



The Shaw bequest consists largely of real estate in the city of St. 

 Louis. In 1911 it was appraised at about $3,000,000, but it is con- 

 stantly increasing in value, and there is a steady increasing rental 

 income. Up to 1917 this revenue averaged about $111,000 per year, 

 and at that time only about 44 per cent of the gross income was 

 available for the expenses of the garden. It amounted to $45,300' 

 for that year, and it was spent as follows : 



Gardening $28,500 ( 63 per cent. ) 



Garden pupils <-- 1,200 (2£ per cent.) 



Herbarium ■ 2.200 (5 per cent.) 



Library 4,700 (10 per cent.) 



Office 6,300 (14 per cent.) 



Research 2,400 (5£ per cent.) 



Having this very considerable endowment, the garden is able to 

 plan its work for a long time ahead and is likely to become one of 

 the greatest botanic gardens in the world. 



FUTURE PROSPECTS. 



The foundation of the establishment seems secure. The trustees 

 have already increased the original area of the grounds by one-half, 

 and detailed plans exist for the improvement of additional land that 

 will double the present area. 



Plant houses have been doubled in size. A fireproof building has 

 been erected. 



The already large equipment for research work is to be increased. 

 More men are needed. (See map.) 



49. Botanic Garden of United States Department of Agricul- 

 ture. Washington, D. C. 



[Extract from article by Prof. N. L. Button, in Science, Vol. IV, No. 88, 1896.] 



The Botanic Gardens of the United States Department of Agri- 

 culture, at Washington. D. C. have an extensive range of green- 



