MEMORIAL OF CALEB COPE, 211 



William C. Strong, Chairman of tlie Committee appointed at 

 the last meeting to prepare a memorial of the late Caleb Cope, 

 reported as follows : 



Tlie Committee which was appointed to prepare a tribute to the 

 memory of Caleb Cope make the following report: 



The progress of Horticulture in this countr}- during the present 

 century has been so swift and tlie area of cultivation has become 

 60 vastly extended that the present generation can but faintly 

 realize the limited conditions of the earl}' days. We are so occu- 

 pied in keeping abreast with progressive changes that we have 

 little time and too little inclination to glance backward in 

 acknowledgment of our indebtedness to the past. Yet surely it 

 is the part of wisdom, as it is but simple justice to the memory of 

 a few eminent men who distinguished themselves as life-long 

 patrons of our art, that we recognize and hold in grateful remem- 

 brance their influence in securing the results which we now enjoy. 



Caleb Cope was born in Greensburg, Pa., in the year 17i)7. 

 Removing to Philadelphia, he became the leading dry-goods 

 merchant of that city. Early in life his love of nature was mani- 

 fested, and with his increasing wealth he established an estate 

 which he called Spring Brook, then in the suburbs of the city, 

 and which soon became famous throughout the country. It was 

 to be expected, in those days, that such extensive ranges of glass 

 — cold graperies and graperies for earl}' forcing; peach and 

 nectarine houses ; houses for strawberries, tomatoes, and cucum- 

 bers ; camellia and cactus houses, and numerous conservatories 

 for mixed plants, — that such collections, at that time unequalled 

 in the country, should attract general attention. Upon the intro- 

 duction of the Victoria rcgia into England, Mr. Cope built a 

 magnificent house expressly for its culture, and with the assistance 

 of Sir William J. Hooker, he added many specimens of this regal 

 plant, and was the first to flower it in this country. Wiih char- 

 acteristic liberality he allowed the eager public to share in the 

 enjoyment of these treasures. Public institutions, hospitals, and 

 friends, received a large portion of the products of the estate. 



For many years he was the patron and President of the Penn- 

 sylvania Horticultural Societ}', and it is to his influence and 

 generous aid that this honored Societ}' in a great degree owes its 

 success. He was the contemporary and friend of our own 

 Wilder, being President of the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society 



