152 ESTABLISHMENT OF A NATIONAL BOTANIC GARDEN. 



at the greenhouses are more or less sick with chills and fevers during the most 

 part of the year. 



The following remarks on the garden are from the introduction to 

 "A catalogue of plants in the National Conservatories," prepared by 

 William E. Smith in 1854 1 1 



I would here state that the majority of the plants in this list are the results 

 of the United States Exploring Exposition commanded by Capt. Wilkes, with 

 several additions by other officers of the Navy and Army. Mr. Brackenridge, 

 by a judicious system of exchanging, has obtained many important additions. 

 Several of the plants first discovered by the expedition are now to be found 

 wherever an exotic collection exists ; as an example, I may cite the beautiful 

 Gloxinea rubra, etc. This system of exchanging should be further extended. 

 The indigenous plants of this country could be readily exchanged for useful 

 plants from other countries. 



The conservatories are situated in the square immediately in front of the 

 Capitol, west side. * * * A systematical natural arrangement of indigenous, 

 medical, and other useful hardy plants could be formed in it, which .would be 

 of great benefit to the collegiate institutions of the District, and would assist 

 in making Washington, with its libraries and museums, what might be called 

 the City of Reference. 



The Exploring Expedition greenhouses removed from the Patent Office have 

 been located here about four years. 



I may here state that the seeds from the collection are gathered, and, to- 

 gether with such plants as can be spared, are distributed to the order of the 

 chairman of the Joint Library Committee, the Hon. J. A. Pearce, Senator from 

 Maryland, and Capt. Wilkes; exchanges being managed by the superintendent. 



In 1859 the garden was spoken of as a pleasant place to visit, with 

 gravel walks, bordered with box, rare plants, and trees. The cultiva- 

 tion of plants had, therefore, by that time been extended beyond the 

 greenhouses, and the later aspects of the site as a botanical garden, as 

 contemplated by the Columbian Institute and on the same ground 

 which it had occupied, had been started. 



1 A popular catalogue of the extraordinary curiosities in the National Institute, arranged 

 in the building belonging to the Patent Office, by Alfred Hunter, 1854 and 1855, pp. 

 G4-70. 



