21G BEQUESTS FOR TlIE PROMOTION OF SYLVICULTURE. 



One of these, (to the American Pliilosopbical Society), still remains in- 

 Tesiecl in French funds, and by an agreement with the commission- 

 ers of Fairmount Park, a grove of oaks is to be established there, ^vhich 

 is to bear the name of " The Michaux Grove," and in which there is to 

 be planted two oaks of every species that will endure the climate. The 

 surplus of the fund, is to be devoted to the cultivation of oaks of every 

 kind that can be reared in the park nursery, which, to the extent of two 

 of each kind, are to be hereafter distributed to other public parks in the 

 United States, under regulations to be hereafter prescribed. The site 

 selected is in a central portion of Fairmount Park, westward of the 

 Schuylkill, the soil being thought sufficiently varied there to accommo- 

 date the different requirements of these trees. Upon this portion, in 

 May, 1876, seventeen species of the Qnercus were already growing, and 

 some of them in their native state, and already a century old.' 



The portion of the legacy going to Massachusetts has been invested 

 in that State, and the society that is the legal representative of the trust 

 lias, during the past three years, granted 81,500 annually to the botan- 

 ical garden of Harvard University, and, in addition, in 1876, gave $1,000 

 to the Arnold Arboretum of the same institution. It has also caused to 

 be printed and distributed 10,000 copies of a pamphlet on forest-culture. 



Bussey Institution and Arnold Arboretum^ Eoxhury, Mass. 



Mr. Benjamin Bussey, of Eoxbury, Mass., in a will made July 30, 1835, 

 jirovided for a school of agriculture and horticulture as a department of 

 Harvard College. The trustees, in May, 1861, transferred 8413,200.69, 

 besides the Woodland Hill estate, for this object. In the spring of 1870 

 the establishment of the proposed school was begun, the income being 

 then 838,187 and the accumulated fund $75,070.94:. 



In the spring of 1872, the president and fellows received a gift of 

 $100,000 from the trustees under the will of the late James Arnold, of 

 New Bedford, Mass., for the purpose of estal.lishing in the Bussey In- 

 stitution a professorship of tree-culture, and creating and maintaining 

 on the Bussey estate an arboretum that should ultimately contain, as 

 far as practicable, all the trees, shrubs, and herbaceous plants, either 

 indigenous or exotic, that can be raised in the open air at West Koxbury. 



sole ownership to these two above said societies, aud the usufruct to ruy aforesaid wife 

 for her life." 



This bequest did not become available until 1670. In a -will subsequently revoked, 

 Michaux had suggested the i)Ui chase of land and the planting of trees. He doubtless 

 ii'tended the exhibition of many kinds, aud a center ot distribution for trees and fruits. 

 {Eli K. Price, iu a paper on Sylviculture, read before the Am. Phil, Soc. November 1(3 

 and December 7, lb77.) 



' The society, iu 1876, issued an appeal, which we deem worthy of favorable notice. 

 It is as follows: 



"Trees for the Fairmount Park. 



" This park is in the earliest stage of its formation. A principal feature of its beauty 

 must con.-sist of trees plauttd in manner to form pleasing landscapes, and in trees 

 planted singly, in groups, and groves. The commissioners desire to also add a botani- 

 cal interest to the park, by having in it every tree that will stand our climate. To 

 promote this object, aud duly to horor the name of Michaux, father aud sou, the 

 A'.uerican Philosophical Society have devottd half the income of the legacy left by ihe 

 son to the society, of about §300 per annum. This has been applied toward the plant- 

 ing of the Michanx grove of oaks, and to importing and planting in our nurseries 

 many varieties of oaks. The announcement of these facts is now made, during the 

 holdingof the Centennial International Exhibition, as an auspicious occasion to invite 

 contributions of trees, acorns, and ^eeds fiom all parts of the world, and from all per- 

 sons who love the beautiful in landscape, and to promote botanical science. 



"Communications maybe made to Eli K. Price, 709 Walnut street, Philadelphia, 

 chairman of coniutittee on trees and nurseiies in the park; chairman of committee on 

 Michaux Fund in American Philosophical Society." 



