The Gardens are planted chiefly with elms, but besides these trees there are numerous poplars, chestnuts, planes, limes, ashes, maples, oaks, willows, birches, alders, thorns, etc. Conifers are few in number, as the soil does not suit them, but holly and box grow well enough.
A good amount of bedding-out is done; for summer planting alone more than 4,500 plants are used annually. The houses contain collections of orchids, palms, tree and other ferns (the tallest Balantium antarcticum in Europe is said to be there), agaves, azaleas, and various other stove and greenhouse plants. One house has been set apart chiefly for tropical economic plants.
The collection of animals numbers actually 394 mammals of 127 species, of which there are no less than 91 apes of 29 species, and 154 ungulates of 46 species.
There are 1,406 birds of 360 species, 94 reptiles of 24 species, and 39 amphibia of 3 species.
The management of the affairs of the Society is entrusted to a board of twenty-five shareholders, with president, vice-president, hon. secretary, and hon. treasurer included.
Out of these twenty-five members different committees are formed, who have the supervision respectively of: (1) The collection of animals; (2) the garden and plants; (3) the buildings; (4) the clubhouse, concerts, etc.; (5) the library and the museum. All these gentlemen render their services gratuitously.
Holders of original tickets have the right of free admission to the Gardens. Members who are residents of Rotterdam pay thirty guilders a year, with an entrance fee of ten guilders. They have free access with their families to the Gardens. There are in all 5,837 members at the present day. The admission for visitors is one-half guilder, children half-price.
HERD OF WATERBUCK.
JAPANESE DEER.
KANGAROOS.
BRINDLED GNU.
During the summer season about thirty-five evening and thirteen morning concerts are given. On the Queen’s birthday there is an additional display of fireworks.