1852.] THE PHILADELPHIA FLORIST. 219 



(e- eluded. The union of all the objects in nature tends to heighten our^J 

 cP reverence for the whole system ; and while we admit that our herba- m^ 

 / ceous flora is much too little cared for, we believe there is no fear of > 

 neglect with respect to Arborescent Natives — they stand up in defence 

 of their claims, and cannot be overlooked. In order however to 

 bring the matter fairly before the public, there must be something 

 more than writing ; the comparative value of the several applicants for 

 favor must be clearly shown, and to this end we would say to the 

 enterprising citizens of this nourishing portion of the Union, give us 

 a Botanic Garden — set apart a few acres of the abundant territory of 

 America and dedicate it, free from the encroachments of speculation, 

 to the service of the beautiful in nature. Give the peaceable inhab- 

 itant of the city who wishes to indulge in a little intellectual recre- 

 ation, a park to walk in, where he can read nature out of her own 

 book. 'Tis true we have squares, but we get fatigued in them. Eve- 

 ry tree, nay every spot of ground in Franklin and Washington 

 Squares, and even Logan and Rittenhouse, has been marked and 

 traversed time after time. The squirrels which sport amongst the 

 branches of their trees are quite domesticated by our frequent visits, 

 and we can see no flowers here. The trees are growing so tall that 

 we only become familiar with their trunks, and we can scarcely sat- 

 isfy ourselves whether or not that tall specimen is Fraxinus acumina- 

 ta, for its leaves if they are acuminated, are out of our reach. Give 

 us even a small Botanic Garden for a beginning. Let it be at Bush 

 Hill, Green Hill, Laurel Hill, or Lemon Hill; the last mentioned 

 place is not the least appropriate, in fact it is the very locality for 

 such an acquisition to the beauty of the city. "With Fairmount, Gi- 

 rard College, and Laurel Hill all in its vicinity, how different would 

 the Falls of Schuylkill appear viewed from the terrace surrounding a 

 grand conservatory on a fete day, situated on the sloping ground of 

 Lemon Hill, with a band of music to charm the invigorated specta- 

 tors. We do not fear but that the refined taste of the citizens will yet 

 have an impulse imparted to it, in such a direction. Then, our cor- 

 respondent " P hilar vensis" will be gratified by seeing Podophyllum 

 peltatum labelled and growing where it may be recognized and ad- 

 mired as a real native j and Gymnocladus and the Pavias alongside 

 Faulownia, Laburnum, and the (Esculus. 



Our Monthly Tour of Inspection. 



When we commenced the publication of a horticultural journal we 

 did not intend to confine our operations to the business of receiving 

 \ communications, arranging and replying to them. We proposed to I 

 r -p ourselves to note the actual progress of horticulture by visiting those cP 

 ^establishments where the science is promoted and encouraged, thereby 



