172 PARKS AND PLEASURE-GROUNDS. 



it is true, in carrjdng out the territorial principle, parti- 

 cularly in regard to those exotics wMch require protec- 

 tion and artificial lieat. Still much might be done with 

 the natives of the temperate and frigid zones, to exhibit 

 the vegetation of particular kingdoms. At least three 

 of the quarters of the globe — Europe, Asia, and America 

 — could be adequately represented ; and subordinate sec- 

 tions, if necessary, might be made to include the plants 

 of the more important countries or ranges of continent 

 embraced in the main divisions. For example, we might 

 have a British Flora, a French and German Flora, a 

 Mediterranean, a Russian and Siberian, a North Ame- 

 rican Flora, and various others. Undoubtedly, one of 

 the most curious things in our flower-gardens is to see 

 natives of the Alps and the Himalayas, of Oregon and 

 of the Cape of Good Hope, all growing peacefully 

 and lo^dngly together ; but in consequence of this 

 promiscuous planting, the facts of botanical geography 

 are at once lost sight of, and very often completely for- 

 gotten. It is admitted that it would be difficult, or 

 rather expensive and laborious, to carry out the terri- 

 torial system to a great extent : yet it might be within 

 the compass of attainable efPort to adopt the principle 

 in part. We should like to see a real American garden, 

 — that is, one containing only American plants, and not 

 the mixed affair which goes generally under that name. 

 There might at least be distinct gardens for the natural , 

 vegetation of the United Kingdom, and of her principal 

 colonies — those, namely, in North America, the Cape, 

 Australia, New Zealand, and the mountainous regions 

 of India. It is not proposed that every plant which is 

 to be foimd within the limits of any country should be 

 included in these separate arrangements ; but it seems 



