38 Cincinnati Socicfy of Nalilral History 



is beginning to crowd us. All these are subsidized by their 

 respective cities, except our own. Even the one at Philadel- 

 phia receives municipal support of $25,000 a year. There 

 are fifty -four zoos in the United States, that is, about one-half 

 the cities of over 40,000 are supplied. Most of them are under 

 the auspices of Park Commissions. New York and Detroit 

 have extensive aquariums similarly supported. 



The Botanic Garden is similar to the zoo in its social 

 function. In all parks, of course, shrubs and trees are planted, 

 and greenhouses are common, but a botanic garden to be 

 worthy of the name ought to be comparable to a zoological 

 garden in its harboring of exotic species. The richly endowed 

 Shaw Gardens at St. Louis are perhaps the most important 

 west of New York. The great advantages of Cincinnati in this 

 respect are similar to those of St. Louis. It lies in the critical 

 latitude where northern and southern species meet and acclim- 

 atization is correspondingly favored. Its topography offers 

 a wide range of conditions, and above all, its people love flowers. 

 A private garden planted and lovingly cared for by Mr. Tuch- 

 farber, of Wcstwood, is now the jjroperty of Mrs. Mary Emery 

 and kept for the public good. This may be the germ of some- 

 thing greater, but if Cincinnati is ever to have a really great 

 botanic garden, it is more likely to develop in the Mt. Airy 

 Forest, now^ city park property. The topography there is 

 highly varied. On account of its location with respect to our 

 prevailing winds, it is freer from smoke than any other part 

 of the city (a very important matter in a botanic garden). 



The Professor of Botany at the University once had a very 

 modest plan of assembling in one spot, duly provided with green- 

 houses, all the shrubs and flowers which might be desirable 

 for landscape gardening, public or private, in the city; such a 

 collection to constitute a kind of reference library or showcase 

 which anyone might consult for the purpose of choosing shrubs, 

 flowers, and to some extent even trees to beautify his home 

 or street, or to be of similar service to park managers. It would 

 seem that such a project would lie well within the province of 

 the Park Commission. 



