238 -[Assembly 



saw in Virginia was in General Washington's garden. Now they 

 are plenty in Philadelphia, and even farther North. He had planted 

 the soft-shelled almond in Florida, and was of opinion that it would 

 do well, and might supersede the imported article. Plants generally 

 have a uniform temperature at all hours, as he had demonstrated 

 some years ago, by placing the bulb of a thermometer in a tree. 

 This equal temperature tended to equalize heat and cold in timbered 

 countries, as is evident from the sudden changes in places destitute of 

 trees. 



General Dearborn having, in the course of his remarks, alluded to 

 his correspondence on the subject of a botanical garden in Florida, 

 was requested by a committee of the Institute to furnish the same for 

 publication, in connection with the report of the proceedings of this 

 Convention. He kindly complied, and the letters are inserted. 



Hawthorn Cottage, Roxbury, December, 1846. 



My Dear Sir: — I enclose the copy of a letter from Professor 

 Wurdemann, an eminent physician of South Carolina, to General D. 

 D. Clinch, of Georgia, in relation to the establishment of a botanical 

 garden in Florida, which was transmitted to me by Doctor A. Mitch- 

 ell of Portland, Maine, from the belief that I would be gratified to 

 learn the views of a scientific gentleman of such distinction, so ex- 

 actly quadrate with those entertained by the American Institute, upon 

 a subject that claimed its special attention, during the last exhibition 

 of the products of the earth and mechanical industry. 



From the extensive information which Dr. Wurdemann possesses 

 of the extreme southern region of our country, great confidence may 

 be placed in his statements, as to the climate of Florida, and the ad- 

 vantages which would be derived, from the location of a garden of 

 acclimation in that state. 



Dr. Mitchell is entitled to the highest respect for the commenda- 

 ble and zealous efforts he has made to investigate the various depart- 

 ments of our natural history. Within the past six or eight years he 

 has collected specimens of most of the birds of New-England, and 

 many of the quadrupeds, as well as of other animals, and has pre- 

 pared them in a very perfect manner for insuring their preservation. 

 I have never seen more beautiful illustrati ns of the very difficult 

 art of securing examples against that decay to which such precious 

 acquisitions are liable. 



