20 THE BOTANISTS OF PHILADELrHIA. 



ted, and is provided with separate pockets for every plant 

 after the rockery in the botanic garden at Edinburgh. 

 Here are grown a large number of rock plants and herba- 

 ceous ones of a gaudy color. Narrow pathways intersect 

 the rock garden in every direction, so that a person can 

 study the plants closely, as well as in mass. The fernery, 

 hardly yet thoroughly established, is in a glen through 

 which runs a cindered path under trellis-work devoted to 

 climbing plants, intended to protect the delicate ferns 

 beneath. Nearby is the Bryarium for the growth of mosses. 



The surrounding shrubberies have been laid out so as 

 to illustrate geographic groupings of plants. One is devoted 

 to the swamp shrubs of the eastern States, such as the white 

 azalea, white birch, spice brush, swamp magnolia, androme- 

 das, huckleberries, cedar and juniper. Another includes 

 the rhododendrons, azaleas and kalmias of our woods. 

 Under the shade of these, native and introduced herba- 

 ceous plants thrive, that would soon shrivel if exposed to 

 hot suns. 



Through the generosity of Provost Harrison important 

 additions were made to the plant houses at the close of the 

 season of '97. These houses now represent more than 9000 

 feet of glass surface, and consist of eight houses in addition 

 to propagating frames. One of the greenhouses, immediately 

 connected with the laboratory for plant physiology, is in 

 part utilized as a temperate house, in part for the work of 

 students in plant physiology. An adjoining house, 34 X 11 

 feet, is arranged as a fernery, and contains a representative 

 collection of ferns and their allies. Opening from the last 

 are a propagating house, 40 X 10 feet, a stove house, 46 X 

 18 feet, and a palm house, 59 X 28 feet. The two last now 



