414 THE BOOK OF EVERGREENS. 



It is highly proper that the following descriptions 

 should commence with the first botanical garden estab- 

 lished on this continent. On the banks of the Schuylkill, 

 below Philadelphia, in a quiet, secluded spot, that pioneer 

 of American botany, John Bartram, laid the foundation 

 of his garden, which, among scientific men, of all countries, 

 has been the Mecca of their pilgrimage when visiting our 

 shores. Simple, plain, and unpretending in character, 

 devoid of all the embellishments of art, and the extrava- 

 gant systems of the old world, this beautiful rural spot, 

 owing to the care of its succeeding owners, has been 

 handed down to us in almost its original form. 



The Bartram Botanic Garden was established in or about 

 the year 1730. Its founder, John Bartram, about this 

 time commenced forming that collection, which, taking 

 into consideration the slender means at his disposal, and 

 the comparatively meagre knowledge of the age in which 

 he lived, culminated in a truly marvellous work. The 

 Conifera) known at that period are well represented in the 

 truly magnificent specimens yet to be seen in this collec- 

 tion. To the sizes of most of these trees, we are indebted 

 to that interesting little work " The American Hand-book 

 of Ornamental Trees," by Thomas Meehan. As the ma- 

 jority of the Conifers here consist of the older well-known 

 species, we shall merely call attention to such as are re- 

 markable for size and vigor. 



The best specimen of the Hemlock Spruce, Abies Cana- 

 densis, is about 94 feet high, and 8 feet 4 inches in circum- 

 ference. A fine tree of the Norway Spruce, Abies excelsa, 

 is 120 feet high, and 7 feet 2 inches in circumference ; it is 

 beautifully formed, and regularly furnished with drooping 

 branches to within a short distance of the ground. A 

 specimen of the White Cedar, Cupressus thyoides, al- 

 though growing in a rather dry situation, is here 20 feet 

 high. One of the finest plants of the Common Juniper, 

 Juniperus communis, in cultivation, is to be seen at this 



