156 BOTANY OF THE 
most others of the Union are infested with a minute red ant, that 
occasioned me some anxiety for the safety of my dried plants, 
which they certainly will attack, ‘though in a degree much less 
injurious than in the case of the zoologist or entomologist, to 
whose collection they show themselves most unsparing enemies. 
Aug. 10th.—Walked out to Bartram’s Botanic Garden at 
Kingsessing, the earliest ever formed in America, and possessing 
additional interest by association with the name of its founder 
John Bartram and of his son William. The travels of the latter over 
the southern states, towards the close of the last century, from the 
florid and enthusiastic style of the narrative, have a fascination 
about them which has made the book familiar to most young 
naturalists. 
The garden lies on the west bank of the Schuylkill about two 
miles below the city, and is now owned by Colonel Carr, who 
married a grand-daughter of the founder. It is of very moderate 
extent, but in a wretchedly neglected condition, being a com- 
plete wilderness of trees and shrubs, that have been suffered to 
overrun everything, except the small part reserved as a nursery 
ground, in which fruits, vegetables, and a few flowers are raised 
for sale by the proprietor; nor is there much amongst the re- 
maining specimens planted by the two Bartrams to interest à . 
botanist of the present day. The chief object of attraction isa — 
magnificent deciduous Cypress (Zaxodium distichum), the trunk of 
immense girth and at least seventy feet in height, fully equal to any 
specimen of the tree, since seen by myself in the southern swamps, 
or on the Mississipi. A fine Osage Orange ( Maclura) in abundant 
bearing, a Pecan nut (Juglans oliveformis), and a tree of the 
Overcup White Oak (Quercus macrocarpa) all western species, 
were on that account interesting. On the marshy banks of the 
river, between Gray's Ferry and the garden, grew Zizania aquatica 
(Canada or Indian Rice), now in full flower, Pickerel Weed 
(Pontederia cordata), Sagittaria sagittifolia var. latifolia? the 
leaves of which are far larger, broader, and less acutely auricled than 
in our common English form, which I do not recollect ever to have 
met within America. Solanum Carolinense (here I believe rea 
