garden, a mineralogical cabinet, a museum for the recep- 

 tion of natural curiosities, and a well selected library, will 

 in a short period, be enabled to render essential services 

 in many of the branches of knowledge embraced" by the 

 Institute's constitution. 7 



Dr. Cutbush continued by telling those in attendance: 



. . . How many plants are there, natives of our soil, pos- 

 sessed of peculiar virtues, which would supersede the 

 necessity of importing those that are medicinal or neces- 

 sary for the operation of the dyer! . . . 



We have been peculiarly fortunate, my friends, that 

 our association has commenced at the seat of govern- 

 ment; where, through the representatives of the people, 

 coming from the various sections of our country, of differ- 

 ent climates and soils, whose minds are illuminated by 

 the rays of science; and through scientific citizens and 

 foreigners who visit this metropolis, we may reasona- 

 bly expect, not only valuable communications, but 

 various seeds and plants; hence, the necessity for a 

 botanical garden where they may be cultivated, and, as 

 they multiply, distributed to other parts of the 

 Union. . . . The numerous grasses, grains, medicinal 

 plants, trees, &c, which are not indigenous to our 

 country should be carefully collected, cultivated and 

 distributed to agriculturists. 8 



The advancement of knowledge for its own sake and 

 the creation of a botanic garden with great aesthetic merit, 

 however, were not the primary objectives of the Columbi- 

 an Institute. Instead, the Institute perceived its role as be- 

 ing utilitarian— to collect, cultivate, and distribute plants 

 through its garden that were potentially beneficial to the 

 American people. The botanic garden was intended as a site 

 for those plants. 



7 Ibid., pp. 12-13. 



8 Ibid., p. 13. G. Brown Goode credits Cutbush among others with 

 opening the "way for the organization of the National Institute which 

 ... in turn . . . had an important influence toward shaping the course 

 of the Smithsonian Institute." Indeed, in Goode's mind "the germ of the 

 Smithsonian may be found in Cutbush's address." Goode, The Genesis 

 of the National Museum, p. 279. 



