3 1 6 Notes and Gleanings. 



Obituary. — It pains us to be obliged to announce to our readers the decease 

 of one of our most valued correspondents. Mr. BuRGESS Truesdell, well 

 known by his ever-welcome articles upon horticulture at the West, died at Elgin, 

 111., on Sunday, April 5. For some years, he had been in failing health ; but his 

 final sickness dates iVom Christmas last, since which time he has been confined to 

 the house. As through the dreary days of winter his strength slowly failed, he 

 had one intense longing, — to live till the summer, that he might be carried to the 

 grave from the verdure and bloom of the beautiful garden of which he was justly 

 proud. But, in the mysterious wisdom of an all-wise Providence, this wish was 

 denied him. He lived just long enough to have the first early spring-flowers 

 placed in his nerveless hand, though his dimmed eyes hardly recognized them. 



Mr. Truesdell was born in Hillsdale, N.Y., July 23, 1800; and was an early 

 settler of Dundee, N.Y. ; whence he removed to Elgin, 111 , in 1838. 



Botany and gardening were the pastime and recreation of his life. His letters 

 show a mind in unison with Nature, a keen appreciation and love of her hidden 

 beauties ; a quick perception and a searching eye, which knew the floral mysteries 

 which reward the diligent seeker ; which see beauties in each leaf, a treasure in 

 each flower, and find society in every thing that grows. 



Personally, it was never our privilege to meet Mr. Truesdell, and our corre- 

 spondence is not eighteen months old ; but his letters overflow with genial 

 thought, and show him to have been a true lover of Nature. Nor can we doubt 

 that his love of the beautiful on earth led it often to the contemplation of that 

 life where the beautiful is eternal. 



In knowledge of prairie-flowers, Mr. Truesdell had no superior, as his pa- 

 pers contributed to this magazine richly show. The last paper he ever wrote is 

 in our possession, and will at an early day be given to our readers. 



Our garden is enriched with many rare prairie-blossoms kindly sent us by 

 our departed friend, which even now are breaking through the cold earth to 

 greet the warm spring sunshine. Are they not typical of that life upon which he 

 has entered with the spring-days, in a realm where the winter-winds never blow, 

 oj frosts cut off the unfading flowers ? E. S. R., Jun. 



