THE EXPERIMENTAL GARDEN. 97 



ber, 1832, Gen. Dearborn suggested, that as the funds 

 which had been derived from the sale of cemetery lots 

 had been appropriated for the purchase of land, the 

 construction of avenues and fences, and other indispen- 

 sable purposes, it might be expedient to raise a com- 

 mittee authorized to obtain funds by subscription to 

 enable the Society to hasten its improvements, instead 

 of delaying them for even a few years until the pro- 

 ceeds of the cemetery lots supplied the means, as a 

 comparatively small sum, if then placed at the disposal 

 of the Society, would enable it to present an advanced 

 and interesting garden even during the next year, and 

 to lay such a foundation for its gradual extension as 

 would warrant the speedy realization of all the expecta- 

 tions of the Society, and give- great public satisfaction. 

 In accordance with this suggestion, Joseph P. Brad- 

 lee, George W. Pratt, and Elijah Vose, were appointed 

 a committee to obtain by subscription funds for the 

 immediate improvement of the grounds appropriated as 

 a garden of experiment ; but it does not appear that 

 this movement met with any success. The friends of 

 the garden were not, however, discouraged by a lack of 

 means, but went on to the best of their ability with the 

 funds at command. From the commencement of the 

 Society, frequent donations of plants and seeds had 

 been received from lovers of horticulture and botany in 

 foreign countries and in other parts of our own country, 

 especially from the corresponding members, for which 

 the Society made return, as far as in its power, in 

 plants, scions, or seeds of native origin. These gifts 

 had previously been distributed among the members ; 

 but now they were retained for trial in the experimental 

 garden ; the first instance of this disposition of such a 



