130 THE PHILADELPHIA FLOETST. [Sept'r. 



mssp^- : ^Gim 



as the master, but the servant. They scarcely ask it to act the part 

 of a guardian. Now if they do not choose the interference of govern- 

 ment in the formation of a Botanic Garden, they have not organiza- 

 tion enough to do it in any other way. 



Perhaps another reason may be found in the fact that the subject 

 may not have been brought before the people sufficiently. We can- 

 not expect them to engage in such an undertaking without some tol- 

 erably correct idea of its importance, its value and uses. I write 

 merely for the purpose of calling the attention of those much better 

 acquainted with the subject to its importance — the propriety of its 

 discussion, and the expediency of informing and rousing the public. 



Owing to the generally happy equality pervading the citizens of 

 this country, such vast fortunes as are common in more aristocratic 

 nations can rarely be amassed, and never long retained; consequently 

 the surplus for works of taste and elegance is small. It rarely accu- 

 mulates sufficiently to become a marked feature. This fully accounts 

 for the limited extent of American gardens and the poverty of the col- 

 lections, which must be felt by those acquainted with European gar- 

 dens. Such magnificent private collections as those of Chatsworth 

 and Syon-House, are neither desirable nor possible here. They would 

 be contrary to the genius of republican institutions, since the estab- 

 lishment of the few cannot grow to enormous proportions without in- 

 terfering with the development of those of the many. But if Ameri- 

 ca does not now possess these, there is no good reason why she may 

 not, and should not now have a National Botanic Garden equal to 

 Kew. The first thing to be done is to show to the people the nation- 

 al, social and individual advantages of such an institution. 



In commenting briefly upon these, I shall notice first its economi- 

 cal or material value. To understand this, it is only necessary to re- 

 member the large place occupied by plants in the fields of the farm- 

 er, the mills of the manufacturer, the ware-houses and ships of the 

 merchant. It is astonishing how much ignorance prevails amongst 

 these classes generally, respecting the nature of the materials passing 

 through their hands daily. Now knowledge is power here, as else- 

 where. Let the farmer see wheat, rye and maize in their simple, na- 

 tural state, he will have a much clearer idea of the nature and effects 

 of cultivation. How these plants have come to their present state — 

 how that may be preserved and improved, &c. 



These remarks apply substantially to the manufacturer who begins 

 with vegetable products as his raw material, subjecting them to vari- 

 ous processes by capital and labor, until they are so much changed 

 that they can scarcely be recognized. Of the utility of plants in med- 

 icine nothing need be said, as it is fully admitted. On these and si- 

 milar grounds a Botanic Garden is highly desirable ; but I should be 

 sorry to rest it entirely or chiefly on them. There is a higher reason 

 — knowledge for its own sake — that is, as an end, and not as a means 

 to anything else. We are far too much given to the petty task of 

 testing Heaven's gifts by dollars and cents. We seem to forget that 

 the acquirement and possession of knowledge simply for its own sake, 

 is of any great value. We toil enough for the supply of real and im- 

 aginary wants, but forget the higher wants of the intellect. Now I 

 o would say, we ought to possess a grand Botanic, Garden, because of 

 ^the facilities it would afford for the study of the vegetable kingdom — < 



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