SPECIAL PURPOSES OF BOTANIC GARDENS. 233 



design, however, to speak disparagingly of the botanic 

 gardens of the United Kingdom ; many of them fire 

 ably and admirably managed; of these we do not 

 name any, because we cannot enumerate all, and a 

 particular specification of some might seem invidious 

 to the others. We can not help directing the attention 

 of the reader to the great exotic nurseries near our 

 metropolitan cities, and in other parts of the country ; 

 which, though conducted on commercial principles, 

 are substantially botanic gardens, and are not the least 

 remarkable instances of the union of capital, enter- 

 prise, skill, and industry that are to be found in the 

 present day. 



Special Purposes op Botanic Gardens. — In the 

 preceding remarks, it is implied that botanic gardens 

 are intended to be the means of public instruction; 

 we may now notice some of the particular expedients 

 for the accomplishment of this desirable end. 



All botanic gardens are, or ought to be, furnished 

 with systematic arrangements of herbaceous plants — 

 a minor one, according to the Linnsean, and a more 

 extensive one on some one of the natural systems. As 

 a pendant to these, there ought to be a general arbor- 

 etum, in which all ligneous or wooded plants, which, 

 as they can not be conveniently grouped in the herb- 

 aceous arrangements, may be put into scientific com- 

 bination ; and unquestionably, this is best done on the 

 principles of the natural orders and families. Besides, 

 there should be a separate arrangement of medical 

 plants. To give specific directions on these points, 

 does not fall within our present design. We content 

 ourselves, therefore, with merely alluding to them ; 

 and we proceed to indicate some other objects which 



