76 MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



was provided for in its charter, and was especially urged 

 by Gen. Dearborn. It was often the subject of anxious 

 inquiry and interesting discussion ; and the only cause 

 of delay in commencing the important work on an 

 extensive scale was the deficiency of adequate means. 

 When Mr. Brimmer's proposition was communicated by 

 Dr. Bigelow to the officers and members of the Society, 

 and their aid invoked in establishing the cemetery, 

 they perceived the advantage of connecting it with the 

 desired experimental garden ; and it was believed not 

 only that the benefit to the two departments would be 

 mutual, but that the whole would ultimately offer such 

 an .example of landscape gardening as would be credita- 

 ble to the Society, and assist in improving the taste of 

 the public in this highest branch of the art of horticul- 

 ture. By invitation of Mr. Brimmer, Gen. Dearborn 

 visited the proposed site of the cemetery to ascertain 

 whether it would answer the desired purpose. After a 

 thorough examination of its varied features and advan- 

 tages, they were perfectly satisfied that it was impossible 

 to make a more admirable selection in the vicinity of 

 the metropolis. To further the plan, it was determined 

 that President Dearborn should draw up a memoir ex- 

 planatory of the objects for which the land could be 

 advantageously used, and the means of accomplishing 

 them. 



The account given by Gen. Dearborn of the first 

 suggestion that the experimental garden and cemetery 

 be combined, is, that it was made by Dr. Bigelow ; but 

 the latter gentleman, referring to this statement, ex- 

 pressly says that it is only in part correct. " The ceme- 

 tery was suggested by Dr. Bigelow; but the experi- 

 mental garden was a suggestion of other officers and 

 members of the Horticultural Society." 



