4 J^otices on the State and Progress 



collection of exotic plants, of any importance in the United 

 States, was commenced. As early as the year 1800 this col- 

 lection was, as we are informed, exceedingly rich in all the fine 

 species procurable either in Europe or the West Indies; and, 

 judging from the many noble specimens still in existence here, 

 (though scattered in the hands of various persons,) it must have 

 abounded in plants extremely rare at that period. 



For a long time the grounds of Mr. Pratt, at Lemon Hill, 

 near Philadelphia, have been considered the show-garden of that 

 city: and the proprietor, with a praiseworthy spirit, opening his 

 long-shaded walks, cool grottoes, jets d'eau, and the superb 

 range of hot-houses, to the inspection of the citizens, contributed 

 in a wonderful degree to improve the taste of the inhabitants, 

 and to inspire them with a desire to possess the more beautiful 

 and dehcate productions of nature. This taste gave rise to, or 

 supported, many commercial gardens, and it is probable that at 

 this time Philadelphia can produce, in the different estabhsh- 

 ments of Messrs. Carr, Landreth, Buist, McArran, Sherwood, 

 and others, as great a number of tender exotics as are to be 

 found in the Union out of that city. The good effects of these 

 establishments, and of the examples of the amateurs of Phila- 

 delphia, may be seen in the general prevalence of taste which 

 evinces itself in the fine avenues of trees bordering the streets, the 

 great beauty of the public squares, and the variety of trees which 

 they contain, and in those gratifying evidences of refinemerit 

 which make their appearance in every street in the shape of a 

 few pots of flowers on the balcony, or in the windows of the 

 houses. The Horticultural Society of Philadelphia occupies a 

 large sphere of usefulness, and, through the means of its annual 

 exhibitions, which are thronged with spectators, disseminates a 

 knowledge of the progress of horticulture, and a taste for gar- 

 dening pursuits through the whole mass of citizens. 



New York being the great mart of commerce, and its inhabit- 

 ants chiefly engaged in business, there has not been found in its 

 vicinity so great a number of persons of leisure to devote to pur- 

 suits of this nature, as in some of our other cities. The large 

 commercial garden of the Messrs. Prince, at Flushing, into 

 which the elder Prince introduced a great many of the most val- 

 uable productions of European soil, and the flower estabhshment 

 of the Thorburns, in New York, occupied by them as a seed 

 store, but which, from its extent and variety, might more proper- 

 ly have been called a horticultural museum, have been the most 

 prominent points of interest in the horticulture of New 1 ork. 

 M. Parmentier established, a few years since, a large nursery, 

 and introduced very successfully into this country the modern 

 style of laying out grounds; but his extensive garden at Brook- 

 lyn has unfortunately been broken up since his death. Mr. Hogg 



