Pomona College Journal op Economic Botany. 339 



in the institution of botanic gardens is now made imperative by the incon- 

 testable progress of civilization in Mexico. In fact, all countries most 

 advanced in civilization number their botanic gardens by the dozens. How 

 does this happen? It must be acknowledged that the botanic garden is an 

 institution of highly progressive and civilizing influence. If it were not 

 so, the oldest leading civilized nations — Italy, France, England and Ger- 

 many — would not devote so much care to them. Furthermore, not very deep 

 thought is required to perceive that the botanic garden is the most efficient 

 auxiliary of general agriculture on account of its great variety of cultures, 

 and on account of the multiplicity of experiments which it makes possible. 

 In the same way, no one will deny that the botanic garden will furnish the 

 best means for the practical study of the biology of plants, with the price- 

 less material for demonstration that it supplies. At the same time, without 

 doubt, our botanic garden will become more and more a powerful incentive 

 to the public to visit and take interest in the Agricultural Station. This 

 will make more urgent the contemplated construction of about three kilo- 

 meters of road between the capital of the state and the Agricultural Station. 



The appropriation for the new institution being very limited, it was 

 necessary for me to put aside all ideas of greatness, and of "showing off," 

 to stick to the vital points, and to supplement, as far as possible, the 

 insufficiency of labor wnth my personal and continuous superintendence, for 

 the best advancement of the work. 



I am proud to say that, from my point of view, nothing has been over- 

 looked. The main object is to display, in a methodical manner, the great- 

 est possible number of botanical species, preference being given to the 

 native Mexican. The preparation of material for our educational institu- 

 tions, and the laying of the foundation for a resort of instruction and 

 recreation for the general public have also been taken into account. 



With these objects in view it became necessary to divide the garden 

 into different sections, as they are outlined in the sketch published herewith. 

 The most prominent section is, of course, that of the systematic department, 

 occupying the central part of the garden, and having the shape of a gigan- 

 tic cup or bowl. This is subdivided into forty-five large squares of almost 

 uniform area, on which the 277 families or orders of phanerogamous 

 plants are distributed, according to the "Syllabus" of Engler, which, as I 

 consider it the most perfect and modern classification of plants, I have 

 adopted for the arrangement of the entire garden. 



In each square, by setting plants two meters and a half apart, the 

 number averages 48, thus making a total of 2,lfi0 specimens for the wliole 

 section. It mu.st be remarked, however, that from this section all annual 

 and all arborescent species are intentionally excluded, and that it contains 

 only perennial plants of small or of medium size. The reason of such 

 exclusion is obvious. If regular trees were mixed together, their shade and 

 their powerful system of roots would impair and even destroy the growth 



