
Bie + 
106 
I hope to see the Astronomical Observatory rearing its tall form 
towards heaven, and in whose neighborhood I trust to behold the 
University established, that shall train our youths amidst its 
charms. 
The next published reference to a botanic garden in Brooklyn 
appears to be that in the Report of Egbert L. Viele, Esq., January 
15, 1861, to the Commissioners for the Improvement of Prospect 
Park, as follows: 
“ Crossing the head of ‘ The Lake’ by a rustic bridge, the road 
descends into the eastern valley—a slightly undulating plain, 
partly wooded and partly lawn—where it is proposed to locate 
“The Botanical Garden.’ Its position, sheltered from the north 
and with a southern exposure, together with its well drained 
alluvial soil, admirably adapt it for this purpose. The beauty and 
utility of such a feature within the park cannot be questioned. 
Whether the improved cultivation and careful development of 
indigenous and exotic trees and plants shall be placed in the 
hands of an independent association of citizens, like the Horti- 
cultural Society, the space being set apart for this purpose, or 
whether this shall form one of the duties of the Commissioners, 
is a question not germain to this report to discuss. I earnestly 
hope, however, that in one way or the other, this desideratum 
may be accomplished. It cannot fail to prove of great value and 
importance to many, while it will assuredly be a matter of 
interest to all.” (First Ann. Rept. of the Comm. Prospect Park, 
Brooklyn, 1861, p. 31.) 
Viele’s plan for the improvement of Prospect Park (reproduced 
in Fig. 7) shows the location of the proposed botanic garden, and 
also the site of the present Garden, south of the reservoir. It is 
interesting to note, on the plan, that the area adjacent to Mt. 
Prospect reservoir on the east is designated as a “flower gar- 
den.” This area constitutes part of the “north addition” to the 
original area of the present Garden, between the reservoir and 
the Brooklyn Museum, facing north on Eastern Parkway. 
The above plan was never carried out in the development of 
Prospect Park, but in the Report of the Landscape Architects, 
Olmsted, Vaux & Co., to the Board of Commissioners of Pros- 
