1853.] THE PHILADELPHIA FLORIST. 365 



^inestimable privilege, and hope that in exercising it we have not over-r©/ 

 gP stepped the proper limits. The opposition created by such a course c {j 

 we hope to overcome and survive. We are not disposed to enter into \ 

 the peculiar instances where this opposilion was incurred, as doing 

 so would only tend to attach undue importance to an unsuccessful at- 

 tempt to control free opinion, which no honorable individual would 

 sanction. 



We have to return our sincere thanks to our contributors who have 

 done so much to make the Florist a valuable guide in the routine of 

 operations connected with the Farm, Orchard, Flower Garden and 

 Conservatory, and to express our sense of the obligations we owe for 

 the invaluable information furnished on any required topic, Gardeners 

 have done much for the Florist, both as contributors to its pages and 

 as ag?nts, and all gratuitously, with no hope or prospect of reward, 

 except the extension of their favorite pursuit. 



We shall not here make any promises with regard to the forthcom- 

 ing volume j it will speak for itself; and as the past has been only the 

 initiation of the matter, we expect that those who have benefitted by 

 our exertions, and are favorable to the project, will continue their 

 support. 



R.R.s. 



A BOTANIC GARDEN. 



There was once a Botanic Garden in the vicinity of Philadelphia : 

 It was created by the enthusiasm of a genuine naturalist, but it did 

 not long survive its founder and director; it is no longer a botanic 

 garden, bui the residence of a wealthy merchant of Philadelphia, who 

 has spent no pains or expense in modernising it ; and now, with a 

 splendid mansion, and neat lawn and gravel walks, it forms an attrac- 

 tion to the visitor more generally appreciated perhaps than John Bar- 

 tram's garden, filled with botanic novelties and gems, little cared for 

 by the mass, who look with more interest on a stalely pile of masonry 

 than on a rare tree or shrub. But as our country progresses in scien- 

 tific knowledge the taste for such evidences of refinement increases, 

 and the necessity for intellectual recreation becomes as pressing as the 

 more sensual demands have heretofore been. There can be little 

 doubt but that in a few years a Public Botanic Garden will be pro- 

 jected, if not by some society or corporation already in existence, it 

 may be by some spirited company of gentlemen associated for the pur- 

 i pose. 



C^ We are informed that a proposition was once made to the Pennsyl- 

 f^vania Horticultural Society to purchase Bartrams' garden for this 



*£9V^. . . ^ „ ^Ci£i 



