SPECIAL PURPOSES OF BOTANIC GARDENS. 173 



possible, by the selection of characteristic species, to 

 give a fair representation of the vegetable economy of 

 the territory selected, and even to convey an expression 

 of its external physiognomy. The space required for 

 such purposes is not necessarily large, as the trees and 

 shrubs which occupy most space might be kept small, 

 there being other specimens of the same species, in 

 the general collection, allowed to reach their natm'al 

 development. Let any one go into a botanic garden, 

 as commonly arranged at present, in order to acquire 

 a knowledge of the vegetation indigenous in any of the 

 temperate regions of the world, and most likely he ^\lR 

 have to trace, by the aid of books and other appliances, 

 a botanical system scattered over the whole grounds 

 before he can obtain even a glimpse of the object of his 

 research. From the di\isional gardens we are now re- 

 commending, persons about to travel might receive at 

 once a general idea of the vegetation they are likely to 

 meet with in foreign countries ; and all might learn with 

 little trouble how much we are indebted to particular 

 regions for the trees, shrubs, and plants that tenant 

 our gardens. Certainly, the unbotanical public would 

 find more attraction and instruction in these than in 

 strictly scientific arrangements. We therefore strongly 

 recommend them to the attention of om' readers, admit- 

 ting at the same time that they would require some in- 

 crease of room and of expense ; still we think that there 

 are severa] botanic gardens in Great Britain of extent and 

 resources sufficient to admit of the experiment being 

 tried with success. 



All botanic gardens ought to possess a certain number 

 of plant-houses, properly glazed, and supplied with heat- 

 ing apparatus. The more there are of these structures 



