54 COLUMBIAN INSTITUTE FOR THE 



improvement which, if you succeed, would redound much to your credit, as 

 it is one of the most unhealthy sinks in our city — so much so that the men 

 employed at the greenhouses are more or less sick with chills and fevers during 

 the most part of the year. 



The following remarks on the garden are from the introduction 

 to "A catalogue of plants in the National Conservatories," prepared 

 by William E. Smith in 1854 r 1 



I would here state that the majority of the plants in this list are the results 

 of the United States Exploring Expedition, commanded by Captain Wilkes, 

 with several additions by other officers of the navy and army. Mr. Bracken- 

 ridge, by a judicious system of exchanging, has obtained many important 

 additions. Several of the plants first discovered by the expedition are now 

 to be found wherever an exotic collection exists; as an example, I may cite 

 the beautiful Gloxinea rubra, &c. This system of exchanging should be fur- 

 ther extended. The indigenous plants of this country could be readily ex- 

 changed for useful plants from other countries. 



The conservatories are situated in the square immediately in front of the 

 Capitol, west side. * * * A systematical natural arrangement of indige- 

 nous, medical, and other useful hardy plants could be formed in it, which 

 would be of great benefit to the collegiate institutions of the District, and 

 would assist in making Washington, with its libraries and museums, what 

 might be called the City of Reference. 



The Exploring Expedition greenhouses removed from the Patent Office have 

 been located here about four years. 



I may here state that the seeds from the collection are gathered, and. 

 together with such plants as can be spared, are distributed to the order of 

 the chairman of the Joint Library Committee, the Hon. J. A. Pearce, Senator 

 from Maryland, and Captain Wilkes; exchanges being managed by the super- 

 intendent. 



In 1859 the garden was spoken of as a pleasant place to visit, 

 with gravel walks, bordered with box, rare plants and trees. The 

 cultivation of plants had, therefore-, by that time been extended 

 beyond the greenhouses, and the later aspects of the site as a botani- 

 cal garden, as contemplated by the Columbian Institute and on the 

 same ground which it had occupied, had 'bee~n started. 



MUSEUM. 



The formation of a cabinet of minerals and a museum of miscel- 

 laneous articles was among the objects early announced by the Insti- 

 tute. While many specimens in zoology, botany, archeology and 

 various other subjects were assembled, the minerals remained the 

 dominant feature, received the greatest amount of attention and were 

 evidently regarded as the most important asset of the society next 

 after the botanical garden. 



*A popular catalogue of the extraordinary curiosities in the National Insti- 

 tute, arranged in the building belonging to the Patent Office, by Alfred Hunter, 

 1854 and 1855, pp. 64-70. 



