INTRODUCTION. 
A GARDEN is an open place reserved for plants, and a 
gardener is a person who helps a plant to grow. 
Upon this broad interpretation we "set out." 
Before venturing to cross an unsurveyed country, it will 
be well for a traveller to fix the view points, for otherwise he 
may wander far astray. We, in essaying a rapid journey 
through trackless fields, may not linger, but must onward 
press, keeping in sight the land-mark upon the objective hill. 
For direction and distinctness we have divided our subject into 
three parts; the Formative period extending from 1683 to 
1740, — during which German Towne was founded, when it 
became a village with its houses and business confined to a 
Pike, its interests being largely agricultural; — the period of 
development, extending from 1740 to 1854, — during which 
the village expanded to the measure of a town, wherein 
farms gave way to "estates," when pretentious gardens were 
prepared, and professional gardeners appeared; — and the 
modern period, extending from the year 1854 to the year 
191 1, — during which marked changes were made, elaborate 
gardens flourished, and wherein Germantown became an 
integral part of the great city of Philadelphia. 
Geologically the Americas are known to be the most 
ancient of land formations, and some of the oldest of rock 
exposures stand upon the banks of Wissahickon Creek, within 
Germantown's boundaries. It is doubtless from these facts 
that a good Friend of Germantown came to believe the 
"Ark" of Noah rested not upon a foreign "mount," but in- 
stead, upon the elevation of "Ringing Rocks" in Mont- 
gomery County, about forty miles westward of the favored 
territory it is our privilege to consider. Whether the author 
of the "Mosaic Creation of the Earth" was, or was not, 
correct in his conclusions, or whether the world behind the 
"Deluge" possessed other and greater blessings than we, 
need not at this time detain, for it is known our "local 
habitation" had its beginnings in a missionary journey, made 
under the "spirit's guidance," by the founder of Pennsylvania. 
