HISTORICAL SKETCH. 89 



The fioweriiig plants include two hundred Camellias, one lliousand two 

 hundred Roses, one hundred and tAventyfive Azaleas, two hundred Tulips, 

 forty Pelargoniums, fifty Phloxes, fifty Verbenas, twenty five Carnations, 

 thirty herbaceous Paeonies, fifty Cactuses, two hundred Green and Hot 

 House plants, many Tree Paeonies, Lilies, Gladiolus, Rhododendrons, 

 Dahlias, and at least one hundred Forest and Ornamental Trees and 

 Shrubs, — embracing several Native plants, and among these are fifty 

 Camellias ; but none are more deserving of attention than the Prairie Rose, 

 and especially its hybrid varieties. This remarkably elegant climbing 

 cluster species was found growing in the oak-openings of Michigan and the 

 other North Western States, where it attains a height of thirty or forty feet. 

 S. Feast, of Baltimore, Md., has created six, and J. Pierce, of Washington, 

 twelve hybrids which are all double and are transcendently beautiful. 



The Japan Lily, which was recently brought from that island of splendid 

 plants, by Dr. Van Siebold, is deemed one of the most superb acquisitions 

 in the floral department of horticulture, v/hich has ever been made. Col. 

 Wilder has raised several hundred from the seed, which have been exhib- 

 ited in the Hall of the Society, and fully sustained the justice of the 

 distinguished praise which had been bestowed upon this fair daughter of 

 the distant East. 



It may be truly affirmed, that the erection of the Horticultural PL\ll, 

 has had a most favorable influence, and must be considered as one of the 

 most effectual means, which have been adopted for augmenting the conse- 

 quence and utility, and promoting the prosperity of the Society ; and to the 

 unremitted efforts of the then President, Col. Wilder, B. V. French, Samuel 

 Walker and Josiah Stickney, are we chiefly indebted for that superb struc- 

 ture ; for they not only independently and honorably made use of all the 

 influence at their command, as officers of the institution, but became 

 personally responsible in the first great movement — the purchase of the 

 land for the site ; and without which it could not have been accomplished. 



How perfectly in harmony with the important purposes of the association, 

 was the construction of that edifice ; for it having been justly said by a 

 distinguished French author, that Horticulture Avas the last and most 

 beautiful of the Arts, — was it not eminently proper, that the sister Arts of 

 Architecture, Sculpture and Painting should become liberal contributors, in 

 doing homage to her, by the establishment of a Temple, where her zealous 

 votaries might lay upon her altars, on the days of the established festivals, 

 the precious offerings they had gathered, from the magnificent domain of 

 that tutelar divinity ? This no one can doubt ; and such meritorious 

 services Avill be remembered with gratitude by the present members of the 

 Society, who are under so many obligations to their late President, and 

 his associates, and Avill perpetuate their names as benefactors. 



Horticulture has, at last, attained an elevation in public estimation, Avhich 



