ESTABLISHMENT OF A NATIONAL BOTANIC GARDEN. 139 



In the plan of Maj. L'Enfant for a marine hospital, is susceptible of that insti- 

 tution and a botanical garden also, ground there might be appropriated to this 

 use. If neither will admit of it, I see no solid objection against commencing 

 tfiis work within the President's Square, it being previously understood that 

 it is not to be occupied for this purpose beyond a certain period; or until cir- 

 cumstances would enable or induce the public to improve it into pleasure 

 walks. 



The establishment of a botanical garden at the National Capital 

 was also not infrequently the subject of communications by various 

 writers, printed in the public press and elsewhere, in which the im- 

 portance of such an institution both to the science and application 

 of botany was discussed. 



In the opinion of a contributor of the National Magazine for De- 

 cember 1, 1801 : 



Perhaps nothing would tend more to benefit this city and the Nation at 

 large than that the seat of the General Government should 'be the depository 

 of the arts and sciences. With this impression, I have sometimes speculated on 

 fanciful improvements, and imagined the President's house converted into a 

 national museum, where, as in Paris and London, a national institute might 

 be established and lectures read. * * Such speculations, however glad 



I might be to see realized, are attended with difficulties, which do not obstruct 

 the following lands being appropriated for public use, which are well calculated 

 for the purpose. I can not help recommending it to all those who wish to 

 promote a scientific knowledge of the various branches of agriculture. The 

 plan I propose is to lay out about 50 acres of land for a botanic garden in this 

 city, in the following manner. 



The writer then proposes five branches of the garden, each of 

 which he describes with considerable detail, .while several others are 

 merely mentioned. The first was a Linnean garden, calculated for 

 the botanist who studies plants scientifically, and designed to con- 

 tain every possible variety of plant. The second was a cattle gar- 

 den, in which should be grouped separately the plants preferred by, 

 wholesome or unwholesome to, cattle, sheep, horses, goats, and swine, 

 respectively. The third was a hay garden, to contain all plants of 

 which hay can be made, which, with the preceding, would serve to 

 instruct the practical husbandman. The fourth was an esculent 

 garden, to show every plant which furnishes food for man ; while 

 the fifth was a dyer's garden, containing all plants which afford any 

 assistance in dyeing colors. The other provisions were for rock 

 plants, creepers and climbers, bog and water plants, marine plants, 

 an herbarium, and a nursery. Included in the scheme of the writer 

 were also extensive series of lectures, both scientific and practical. 



Another article, the author of which signed himself " Franklin," 

 was published in the Washington Expositor of Jeomary 9, 1808, 

 under the title " Proposals for establishing an experimental agri- 

 cultural and botanical society at the seat of the General Govern- 

 ment." The writer prefaces by stating that : 



Approaching, as we seem to be,, the period when it will be necessary for our 

 country to put forth all her resources; when improvements in agriculture, in 

 arts, and in manufactures will be encouraged and cherished, as the sinews of 

 our strength, we can not too early lay the foundations of those societies which 

 the experience of other nations has found so conducive of their prosperity. To 

 render us independent we must raise and naturalize those plants the products 

 of which are by custom rendered necessary to our comfort and convenience. 

 All those vegetable productions of other nations which our varied clime will 

 nourish and support, particularly such as may become useful to our infant 

 manufactures, ought to receive public attention. Gardens and nurseries 

 capable of receiving and propagating them, where the chemist, botanist, and 



