74 
wherein, under the care of Miss Mary A. Campbell, an 
artist botanist, have been grown, and now appear, sturdy 
specimens of the rare Halesia, Stuartia, Cedar of Lebanon, 
Styrax, and the most notable of all shrubs, — the gordonia 
or "Franklin" tree. 
Almost without exception the estates upon West School 
House Lane possess fine gardens. In 1908 Mr. Justice C. 
Strawbridge wrote me, — the grounds of "Torworth" had 
not been changed for 50 years, and that his deeds showed 
there had been no change in the size of the place "for at 
least 175 years," a fact he considered remarkable on account 
of its proximity to a large city. In all our territory I do not 
know a picture as restful as that of "Torworth," and an 
attempt to convey its beauty by description I fear would be 
futile. The grounds have long been celebrated for their 
beauty, and the credit is largely due to Archibald Henderson, 
who in 1846 was gardener to Wharton Chancellor, its flower- 
loving owner. The E. W. Clark, Ketterlinus, Warden, 
Mason, Wright, Lovering, Steel, Wain, Warner, George L. 
Harrison, Dr. Ashton, Samuel Welsh, John Wagner, C. C. 
Harrison, and William Weightman gardens, we may only 
have a look at as we pass, for almost every garden indicated 
is worthy of complete presentation. Two gardens, those of 
Jeremiah and Moses Brown, are exceptional, and must not be 
omitted. Each is distinct, and both in bewildering prodigal- 
ity are stocked with the rarest of shrubs and trees. In 18 16, 
this place belonged to the celebrated Dr. Caspar Wistar, for 
whom wisteria sinensis was named, and it was doubtless due 
to his knowledge, that many unusual plants there appear. Gar- 
dener here for many years was Myles Y. Warren, who lived 
at "Rittenhouse-Town," and who conducted a florists' es- 
tablishment at the northwest corner of Rittenhouse Street, and 
Wissahickon Avenue, the site of whose place is now part of 
Fairmount Park. 
One of the most interesting characters connected with 
the gardens of Germantown, and more particularly with 
grounds that are now included in "Vernon Park" was 
