PROMOTION OF ARTS AND SCIENCES. 47 



of the garden for a term of years, and while he would be recompensed 

 by charging admission fees to visitors, though members of the Insti- 

 tute would always be classed as guests, he did not state, except in- 

 directly, what form of entertainment he had in mind. On the other 

 hand, his proposal seemed most exceptionally favorable to the society, 

 and was mainly as follows : 



I will at my expense keep the garden in perfect order, pay all necessary 

 attention to the plants already growing therein, cultivate all such seeds and 

 plants as the Institute may provide, and, in short, do all in my power to pro- 

 mote the science of botany and fulfil to the strictest letter the objects of your 

 incorporation. 



I will at my expense repair the fences now standing or erect new and sub- 

 stantial fencing in their stead, lay the garden out in handsome and tasty style, 

 erect arbours in various parts thereof, and set out vines of various kinds to 

 afford shelter and cool retreats to such persons as may visit it, where refresh- 

 ments may be obtained by the payment of a moderate compensation therefor. 



I will erect an ornamental building in some part of the garden having therein 

 a convenient room or place of meeting for the members of the society where 

 they may congregate, free of expense and by calling therefor receive every 

 accommodation, on such terms as cannot fail of being satisfactory. 



As the garden will open to visitors at a small expense, a strict police will be 

 established, to prevent the ingress of improper persons, to guard the plants, 

 flowers, &c, from the depredations of such heedless or idle persons as might 

 break or otherwise injure them. 



At the expiration of the lease the buildings and improvements made at my 

 expense will be given over to the Institute in perfect order and at all times during 

 its continuance it will afford me pleasure to welcome the members of the Insti- 

 tute in the garden and to listen to any suggestion they may make for its further 

 improvement. 



In conclusion I beg leave to refer more particularly to the second article of 

 this proposition and assure the members of the Institute that no pains will be 

 spared to promote their views — to make the garden an ornament to the metropo- 

 lis and the country at large and to afford to the members of the Institute (as 

 guests) and to the respectable citizens of Washington and to strangers visiting 

 the seat of government (at a small expense) a cool, comfortable, fashionable 

 and respectable place of innocent recreation. 



Planting. — The records of the Institute are entirely devoid of any 

 descriptive account of the planting or of the growth of trees and 

 shrubs in the garden, containing only occasional and brief references 

 to this subject. Money was appropriated in small sums from time 

 to time for procuring and planting forest trees and seeds of various 

 kinds, and a few contributions from both domestic and foreign sources 

 were also acknowledged. In August, 1822, a proposition by the com- 

 missioners for draining the low ground south of Pennsylvania Avenue 

 to furnish and plant such trees as the Institute may require to orna- 

 ment and beautify the garden was accepted. In December, 1823, 

 native forest trees growing in the District of Columbia were col- 

 lected and planted at the expense of John Quincy Adams to the 

 amount of $25; and in 182G several hundred cuttings of the white 



