SPECIAL PURPOSES OF BOTANIC GARDENS. 



171 



of thie reader to the great exotic nm^series near our metro- 

 , politan cities and in other parts of the country, which, 

 though conducted on commercial principles, are sub- 

 stantially botanic gardens, and are among not the least 

 ^ remarkable instances of the union of capital, enterprise, 

 ^ skill, and industrj^ that are to be found in the present 

 day. 



Special Purposes of Botanic Gardens. — In the pre- 

 ceding 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 arboretum, ia which 

 aU Hgneous or wooded plants, which, as they cannot be 

 conveniently grouped in the herbaceous arrangements, 

 may be put into scientific combination ; and unques- 

 tionably 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 faU within our 

 present design. We content ourselves, therefore, with 

 merely alluding to them ; and we proceed to indicate 

 'some other objects which, it is desirable, should be kex^t 

 in view more fully than heretofore in the formation of this 

 species of garden. 



Territorial arrangements of plants have been recom- 

 mended, and, we humbly think, have received too little 

 attention^ for, being skilfully executed, they would pos- 

 sess a high degree of interest. There are difficulties, 



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