visited in the early part of March. 209 



tained in the first compartment; the second is almost wholly filled 

 with roses; and the third with geraniums and other plants. There 

 are some very fine specimens of cactuses in this collection. We 

 noticed a number of pots of pansies, some of which had one or 

 two flowers expanded, that were very beautiful; these pretty lit- 

 tle plants are not so highly appreciated as they deserve to be; it 

 is, however, owing in a great degree to the plants, which have 

 been raised from the English seed, having been but little better 

 than common kinds. Were pains taken to select the seed after 

 one or two good ones have been grown, then the chance of grow- 

 ing superior ones would be certain; like all florists' flowers, a 

 great deal depends on their cultivation and management. 



Unfortunately Mr. Sherwood was not at home, and, from our 

 short visit, we did not notice all the plants. This place 

 will eventually contain many choice and well grown specimens. 



Bartrar)i's Botanic Garden. — This fine place, established 

 by the elder Bartram, one of the first naturalists the United 

 States has produced, is situated on the western bank of the Schuyl- 

 kill, a few miles distant from the city. It is about twelve acres 

 in extent, and is filled with upwards of two thousand species of 

 Amerian forest trees and shrubs. Mr. Bartram was bred a far- 

 mer, but his enthusiastic love of botany drew him from this situ- 

 ation, and he established this nursery, and travelled all over the 

 western and southern country, regardless of all dangers, collect- 

 ing the seeds of trees, shrubs and plants of every description, 

 which he transferred to his nursery. At a very advanced age, 

 he made a tour through the southern country, collecting every 

 thing that would ornament the park, the pleasure ground, or the 

 flower garden. He corresponded with Linnaeus, and other emi- 

 nent botanists and physiologists in Europe, and often sent seeds 

 and plants to the former. Immense quantities of forest tree 

 seeds were sent out to England and the Continent, and hundreds 

 of trees, which are now the ornament of many of the fine parks 

 and pleasure grounds, were either raised from seeds, or have 

 been grown from young plants, sent from Barcram's Botanic 

 Garden. After his death it was carried on by the two sons, 

 John and Wilham, who conducted it in the same excellent man- 

 ner that it had been done by their father. It is now owned by 

 Col. Carr, who married the daughter of John Bartram, and it is 

 still noted for its splendid specimens of American trees, which 

 were planted by Bartram the elder, and have now attained to an 

 unusual size: Cupressus disticha is one hundred and twelve feet 

 high, and is ninety-one years old. A large business in American 

 forest tree seeds is carried on with the seedsmen of Britain and 

 the Continent, and great quanthies are annually exported. 



The exotic department, to which there are several detached 

 houses devoted, is rich in old specimens of some plants, but, 



VOL. III. NO. VI. 27 



