PROMOTION OF ARTS AND SCIENCES. 39 



Another article, the author of which signed himself " Franklin,"' 

 was published in the Washington Expositor of January 9, 1808, 

 under the title " Proposals for establishing an experimental agricul- 

 tural and botanical society at the seat of the general government." 

 The writer prefaces by stating that 



Approaching, as we seem to be, the period when it will be necessary for our 

 country to put forth all her resources ; when improvements in agriculture, in 

 arts and in manufactures will be encouraged and cherished, as the sinews of 

 our strength ; we cannot too early lay the foundations of those societies, which 

 the experience of other nations has found so conducive to their prosperity. To 

 render us independent, we must raise and naturalize those plants, the products of 

 which are, by custom, rendered necessary to our comfort and convenience. All 

 those vegetable productions of other nations, which our varied clime will nourish 

 and support, particularly such as may become useful to our infant manufac- 

 tures, ought to receive public attention. Gardens and nurseries, capable of 

 receiving and propagating them, where the chemist, botanist and agriculturist 

 can have free access at all seasons, will, it is hoped, now become of peculiar 

 interest to the patriot and legislator. * * * For objects of this«nature there 

 is certainly no place better adapted than the seat of the general government. 

 The climate of Washington is calculated for the production of a greater 

 number of plants than a much more northern or southern situation would be. 

 Here reside during the winter and in the spring intelligent members from all 

 parts of the union, who will have an opportunity of knowing the result of the 

 experiments made. * * * Within the limits of the federal seat there are 

 large and ample reservations for public gardens and other national objects, 

 which may advantageously be applied to the purposes of a botanical garden, a 

 public nursery and an agricultural farm. 



The societj^ proposed was to consist of share holders, not exceeding 

 500, organized after the manner of a scientific association. 



The primary objects of the society are to collect at the seat of the general 

 government the useful and ornamental vegetable productions ; and, by experi- 

 ment, ascertain the mode of culture for each best adapted to the climates and 

 circumstances of the United States; as also to form a nursery and repository 

 of seeds, from whence they may be easily disseminated through the United 

 States. To this end they may take a lease of one or more of the large central 

 reservations of land for public use in the city of Washington ; and, whilst 

 realizing their own views, render an essential service to the place; for, as a 

 remuneration for the use of the grounds, the society might plant and protect 

 such trees as will be wanted for their future ornament. They would likewise 

 be enabled, from their nursery, to supply at reasonable rates such trees and 

 shrubs as may be required when the grounds occupied by the public buildings 

 of the United States are put in order. * * * Seeds of the most useful, as 

 well as the most rare and beautiful plants, may be had from the society, and 

 their freshness at all times depended upon. 



It remained, however, for the Columbian Institute to make the first 

 actual trial, which was carried sufficiently forward to demonstrate the 

 importance and utility of such an establishment, and only failed in 

 attaining its ultimate purpose through the lack of proper support. 



