THE BOTANISTS OF PHILADELPHIA. 435 



a cemetery, and many of Hamilton's trees have thus been 

 spared. The most conspicuous and interesting of these now 

 are four plants of the Caucasian Zelkova crenata, about four 

 feet in diameter, probably the largest specimens of this 

 interesting tree in America. Zelkova, which belongs to the 

 Elm family, consists of two species, one of the type of the 

 genus Zelkova crenata, being found only in the Caucasus, 

 while the other species, Zelkova Keaki, is confined to Japan.* 



Blanston Oak. Situated a short distance over the city 

 line in Darby. This tree has served for generations as a 

 landmark for surveyors. It was mentioned in a deed of 

 1683 as an ancient tree, and yet it is still in a luxuriant 

 condition. 



The Original Seckel Pear Tree. The original Seckel 

 Pear Tree was standing (August 31, 1880) in the Twenty- 

 sixth Ward of Philadelphia, near Girard Point, on the 

 farm of John Bastian. It takes its name from Lawrence 

 (Laurence ?) Seckel, a former owner, who first introduced it 

 to public notice, upon coming into possession of the farm. 

 A reference to the tree will be found in Watson's " Annals 

 of Philadelphia and Pennsylvania " (Vol. II, p. 487), also 

 The Gardeners' Monthly, of February, 1865, and September, 

 1880, with illustration. 



The Robert Morris Sago Palm. This tree, growing in 

 Horticultural Hall, Fairmount Park, was presented to the 

 Centennial Exhibition of 1876. The following label 

 attached to it tells its history : " 1776, Cycas revoluta, owned 

 by Robert Morris, of Philadelphia, before and during the 

 Revolutionary War, presented by Jacob HofFner, of Cincin- 

 nati, 1876." 



* Garden and Forest, X, p. 488. * 



