190 REPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1903. 



of placing at the disposal of this Department an area of suitable size and situation 

 for a comprehensive arboretum. In order to give a si)ecific basis for considera- 

 tion of this project, I suggest that the area known as the Mall be set aside for this 

 purpose. 



"No part of the public domain," said Professor Henry in 1856, "is 

 more used than the reservation on which the Smithsonian building 

 stands, but as 3 et no special appropriation has been made by Con- 

 gress for continiung the improvement of the grounds, and it is to be 

 regretted that years should be suffered to pass without planting the 

 trees which are in the future to add to the beauty, health, and comfort 

 of the capital of the nation." In the same connection mention is made 

 of the beautiful monument erected that year near the Institution by 

 the American Pomological Society to the memory of Downing — a just 

 tribute to the worth of one of the lienef actors of our country. The 

 adoption of his ornamental plan for the ]^ul)lic parks of this city was 

 in part due to the example of the Regents in embellishing the grounds 

 around the Smithsonian building. 



In 1858 Professor Henry remarked that — 



The proposition to supply the public grounds with a complete series of American 

 trees has long been contemplated, but as no appropriation has been made by Con- 

 gress for this purpose, the Patent Office, conjointly with the Institution, has taken 

 the preliminary steps by issuing a circular asking for seeds of every species of our 

 forest trees and shrubs that would be likely to thrive in this latitude. This circular 

 has been widely distributed, and it is hoped will meet with a favorable response from 

 all who are interested in making more generally known, and in introducing into more 

 extensive cultivation, the natural ornamental products of our own soil. The seeds 

 are to be sent by mail to the Connnissioner of Patents and placed in charge of the 

 officers having the care of the public grounds. 



In 1862 Professor Henry reported that the trees and shrubbery in 

 the grounds were growing finely under the care of the commissioner 

 of public grounds, 13. B. French, esq. He also called attention to 

 the city canal forming the boundary of the Smithsonian grounds on the 

 north, and across the basin or widest part of which most of the visi- 

 tors to the Institution had to pass. This basin, 'since the introduction 

 of Potomac water, had become the receptacle of the sewage of the 

 city, and was then an immense cesspool, constantly emitting noxious 

 effluvia prejudicial to the health and offensive to the senses of all who 

 approached the locality. Certain methods of abating the nuisance were 

 suggested. 



As before noted, the fence and hedge which originally marked the 

 outlines of the Smithsonian reservation were removed in the time of 

 Downing, thus destroying all visible traces of its limits. On the 

 south this reservation is bounded by B street south, on the west by 

 Twelfth street west. Its depth from B street is 759 feet 9 inches 

 and its length from Twelfth street 1,086 feet 8 inches, its eastern line 

 coinciding with the western line of Ninth street. Its area, therefore, 

 amounts to about 825,590 square feet, or a little less than 19 acres. 



