THE BOTANISTS OF PHILADELPHIA. 33 



and demonstrations. In the past many lectures on botany 

 have been given to interested audiences, under the auspices 

 of the Institute, which also possesses a fine scientific and 

 general library. 



Fairmount Park and its Horticultural Building also are 

 places where the botanists of Philadelphia have received their 

 inspiration. This building, in Moorish style, was built for 

 the Centennial Exposition of 1876, and in it was placed a 

 large and valuable collection of palms, orchids, tree ferns, 

 ferns and other tropical and exotic plants. It has been altered 

 considerably since it was built to give more light to the 

 rapidly-growing araucarias, palms and bamboos. A visitor 

 luxuriates in the vegetation of the fernery, the forcing-house, 

 the temperate-house and the main hall, in which grow some 

 magnificent specimens of Australian palm {Ptychosperma 

 elegans) tree ferns, bamboos, traveler's tree, date palms, 

 rubber trees, fan palms, climbing aroids, wax palms, and 

 other tropical plants. Upon entering the door, one imagines 

 himself in a tropical forest. 



The Commercial and Economic Museum, * which is 

 owned and operated by the City of Philadelphia, is com- 

 posed of the combined exhibits of many countries, both of 

 raw material and the vegetable and animal products of the 

 countries represented. This museum was established soon 

 after the close of the Columbian Exposition. 



Professor Thomas Meehan and Professor W. P. Wilson, 

 made the proposition to procure these great collections 

 to one or two public-spirited gentlemen on September 7, 

 1893, and on September 12th of that year a resolution was 



* The Mirror, Philadelphia, Wednesday, May 8, 1895, with portraits of those 

 prominently connected with the Philadelphia Museums. 



