22 THE HOKTICULTUKE OF 



ornamental trees that, in their growth, would have improved and 

 changed in a short time the character of the place ; also the want 

 of the Conservator} 7 and other glass, which would have been very 

 effective on the place. 



The Public Garden was under the supervision of 

 Prof. James E. Teschemacher, afterwards Corresponding 

 Secretary of the Massachusetts Horticultural Society, 

 and one of the most eminent botanists and chemists of 

 our day. 



In this connection, although not strictly horticultu- 

 ral, our history would be incomplete did we not remem- 

 ber the Great Elm of Boston Common, supposed by some, 

 probably a mere fancy, to have been planted by Mr. 

 Blackstone ; the noble Paddock Elms in front of the 

 Granary burying ground, whose running roots searching 

 for food pierced the dark charnel vaults within, like that 

 other tree whose roots held within its loving embrace 

 the honored heads of puritan and patriot dust. The 

 Paddock Elms were planted about the year 1762, but 

 have yielded to the daring spirit which is fast making a 

 new city out of old Boston. The monster Elms of Essex 

 street are gone, and also the old " Liberty Tree" once at 

 its corner on Washington street, consecrated by our 

 fathers to the rights of man, as a fit representative of 

 that national tree which now overshadows our vast 

 country, and under whose wide-spreading branches 

 more than fifty millions of happy freemen now recline 

 in peace and safety. 



The Great Elm was also at a time one of the secret 

 places of resort for the Sons of Liberty, and then bore 

 the name of the " Liberty Tree," but this must not be con- 

 founded with the " Liberty Tree " of which we have 

 spoken and which was cut down by the British soldiers 

 during the siege of Boston. Of the age of the Great Elm 

 we cannot speak positively. It has been known as far 



