yh ene PREFACE. 
trees. and plants; and the Green and Hot-houses form a froné 
of 100 feet, with a depth of 39 feet; and it is purposed to en- 
large both the garden and the buildings, as. the increasing. de- 
mand for the objects to which they are devoted may render it. 
necessary. ee ae 
Very large accessions are. making monthly to the Green- 
house collection, and also to the establishment: generally, as 
well by extensive importations from the most celebrated col- 
_lections of Europe, as- by the interchange of civilities with Bo- 
tanic Gardens in different quarters ofthe globe, and the liberal 
contributions of gentlemen of science and research, whose plea- 
sure or avocations call them to remote regions; and seeds of 
_several hundred very valuable species are now in the possession 
of the proprietor, which have been received from these sources,. 
but whieh it is contrary to the rules of this establishment to 
publish as in their possession, until their culture shall have 
been crowned with success. The frequent intercourse now es- 
tablished between this country and. China has also induced the 
- proprietor to make direct importations from that country, 
vhich perhaps is more rich.in.splendid flowers than any other 
known, and the success of these efforts have been hitherto such 
as to encourage their continuance. - 
It, therefore, may confidently be hoped, that ere long our 
country will possess a Botanic collection, at least equal to 
many of those which have received the patronage of the go- 
vernments of Europe; and it is but reasonable that an empire, 
extending from.the Atlantic to the Pacific Qcean, and-embrac- 
ing in its latitudinal dimensions every climate of the earth, and 
whose Flora, no doubt, co-extensive with its variety of climes. 
and soils, must form a very.large division of the vegetable king- 
dom. should possess a Botanic collection. superior to those of 
_the diminutive countries of Europe, and. which should concen- 
trate at least all the plants indigenous to our own; and it is. 
here perhaps to be regretted, that the munificence of our go- 
vernment has not been directed to the accomplishment of s 1c 
an object, by the establishment of a National Botanic Institu- 
tion founded on this principle at the city of Washington, both 
its climate and situation being peculiarly favourable to such an 
undertaking. 
I cannot conclude my prefatory remarks without acknow- 
ledging my obligations to a number of gentlemen for their po- 
lite contributions to this establishment, especially to Professor — 
Thouin, Administrator of the Royal Gardens at Paris; Thomas 
‘Nuttall, Esq. author of the “ Genera of American Plants;? 
z 
7 >" 
_ 
