598 Our Botanic Garden. [December, 



dDnr Sktuttit farhn. 



In connection with the Experimental Farm of this College, the 

 Botanic Garden is a prominent subject of attention. Twenty acres 

 of land, lying adjacent to the Polytechnic Hall, is now separated 

 from the farm proper, by a high paling and hedge, and dedicated to 

 Flora and her beautiful science. This land is admirably adapted to 

 the purpose intended. It is much diversified in surface ; and the 

 landscape art, in the hands of Mr. Kern, the accomplished Actuary 

 of the garden, has added greatly to the beauty of its forms. An 

 artificial lake, of small extent indeed, yet so ingeniously indented 

 with promontories, bays and estuaries, seems to the view many times 

 as extensive as it really is. This imitates the serene and beautiful 

 in nature, having its green, grassy shores, gently sloping, and grace- 

 fully curving to the water's edge. Another lake, smaller in 

 extent, affects the picturesque and rugged in nature, having bold 

 and rocky shores, and a cool fountain beneath a shelving and pil- 

 lared rock — a grotto^ to all intents and purposes. Both these lakes 

 have agreeably disappointed us in maintaining a full supply of 

 -^jrater— deep and tolerably clear— during the unprecedented drought 

 of the present year. Moreover, a sinking spring and a natural 

 bridge, improved — but not originated — by art, add to the interest- 

 ing diversity of the grounds. Besides the pleasing effect of this 

 diversity, as scenery, it serves the purposes of the garden by afford- 

 ing the varying conditions of surface, soil, moisture and exposure, 

 requisite to the growth of species of plants, varying equally in hab- 

 it, from all parts of our country. 



Some progress has been made during the present year, in stocking 

 these grounds with trees, shrubs and herbs, as intended. The coni- 

 y-g^ce — evergreens — are quite fully represented; so are the sali- 

 cacece— willows, etc. Here are also already seen most of the New 

 England birches, entire strangers to these parts. Most of the Mag- 

 noUas from the South are also flourishing here, and numerous oth- 

 ers. That extensive collections should have been made in a single 

 year, in addition to the preparation of the buildings and grounds, 

 was not to be expected. Yet a great work has been done, and we 

 are now prepared to welcome in this garden, and hospitably entertain 

 any and every species from the wild woods and prairies— from the 

 mountains and the marshes which our collectors can gather in, oi 



