THE MAGAZINE 



OF 



HORTICULTURE. 



JUNE, 1848. 



ORIGINAL COMMUNICATIONS. 



Art. I. Notes on Gardens and Nurseries in the Vicinity of 

 New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, and Washington. 

 By the Editor. 



In the autumn of 1845, we visited several gardens and nurse- 

 ries in the cities above mentioned, and our notes and memo- 

 randa, made during our visit, we gave in our volume for 1846, 

 (XII. p. 241.) Since that period, — little more than two years, 

 — there has not been a very great change in the state of gar- 

 dening ; but a recent visit has enabled us to jot down a few 

 notes, which may not be without interest, 



Washington, D. C, March \Oth, 1848. Experimental 

 Garden of the Natiojial Institute. — This garden, under the 

 superintendence of our correspondent, Mr. Breckenridge, is 

 well repaying the expense attending its management : through 

 the exertions of Mr. Burke, the Commissioner of Patents, 

 thousands of papers of seeds, raised in the garden, are distrib- 

 uted, through the representatives of the several states, annually 

 assembled in Washington, and handsome, and even rare and 

 choice, kinds of seeds find their way where, through the ordi- 

 nary course of trade, they would not be probably introduced 

 for years. In a country extending over so vast a territory as 

 ours, and deprived, as we are, of cheap postage, this medium 

 of sending seeds is of the greatest importance ; for it brings to 

 immediate notice many varieties which would otherwise re- 

 main but little known for years : thus the beautiful Chinese 

 primrose, the brilliant portulaca, aud the varied verbena, are 



VOL. XIV. NO. VI. 21 



