visited in the early jmrt of March. 211 



We stopped for a few minutes in the seed room, to notice the 

 fine collection of cactuses which we found here; they are very 

 well grown, and contain some new kinds, some time since re- 

 ceived from Mexico, and which have not, we believe, yet pro- 

 duced flowers: some are of grotesque forms and singular appear- 

 ance. We presume that this is the most complete collection in 

 the country, numbering a greater quantity of species or varieties. 

 More interest attaches to this old establishment in the summer 

 season, when the numerous species of American trees, shrubs, 

 vines, hardy evergreens, &c., collected from all parts of the 

 Union, are in foliage and flower; and which are of such interest 

 to the lover of our indigenous trees, as would well pay for a visit 

 to this city. An English writer has observed that the large spe- 

 cimens are alone worth travelling five hundred miles to see. 



It is with deep regret that we learn that one of the principal 

 rail roads in the State of Pennsylvania, now constructing, will 

 run to the city directly through the nursery of Col. Carr, and 

 will cut up the grounds in such a manner as to entirely destroy 

 their beauty ; but what is a source of yet deeper regret, is the destruc- 

 tion which it will cause of some of the old and still beautiful speci- 

 mens of trees which ornament the place; several of these, which 

 have long served as a memento of the zealous labors of the elder 

 Bartram and his sons, will fall by the woodman's axe. It is a 

 melancholy scene to the American horticulturist to see the few 

 beautiful private residences and nurseries of which our country 

 can boast, one by one, purchased by individuals or companies, 

 to be cut up into building lots, or otherwise destroyed, b)^ rail 

 roads running directly through them. Dr. Hosack's, at Hyde 

 Park, N. Y., the best specimen of gardening in this country, 

 was the first; INIr. Pratt's, Laurel Hill, but little inferior in its 

 style, next; and now one of the oldest nurseries, founded by 

 one of the best naturalists this country ever produced, is to fol- 

 low, though not the same, a similar fate. We hope, however, 

 that the time is approaching when the public taste will be brought 

 to such a state as to appreciate and venerate the many beautiful 

 country residences which already exist, and rather than destroy 

 what few there are, endeavor to hold them up as specimens of 

 individual wealth, accompanied with taste and liberality, a love 

 of our indigenous forest trees and shrubs, and a desire to im- 

 prove, by the aid of art, the appearance of the country in some 

 localities not naturally picturesque, or give to the wild and almost 

 uninhabited spots that quiet repose of character and highly cul- 

 tivated appearance which harmonizes more consonantly with our 

 feelings and ideas. In a country subject to the same wise laws 

 as those by which ours is governed, we can never expect to see 

 the same elegant places descend hereditarily through many gene- 

 rations, nor, if we could, should we wish it; but we do sincerely 



