12 
Old Time Gardens 
Quaker “lads and lasses” of the new world. Though 
nothing came from this bequest, there was a later 
fulfilment of Fox’s hopes in the establishment of 
a successful botanic garden in Philadelphia, and, in 
the planting, growth, and flourishing in the province 
of Pennsylvania of the loveliest gardens in the new 
world ; there floriculture reached by the time of the 
Revolution a very high point ; and many exquisite 
gardens bore ample testimony to the “ pride of life,” 
as well as to the good taste and love of flowers 
of Philadelphia Friends. The garden at Grumble- 
thorp, the home of Charles J. Wister, Esq., of 
Germantown, Pennsylvania, shown on page 7, dates 
to colonial days and is still flourishing and beautiful. 
In 1728 was established, by John Bartram, in 
Philadelphia, the first botanic garden in America. 
The ground on which it was planted, and the stone 
dwelling-house he built thereon in 1731, are now 
part of the park system of Philadelphia. A view 
of the garden as now in cultivation is given on 
page 9. Bartram travelled much in America, and 
through his constant correspondence and flower 
exchanges with distinguished botanists and plant 
growers in Europe, many native American plants 
became well known in foreign gardens, among them 
the Lady’s Slipper and Rhododendron. He was a 
Quaker, — a quaint and picturesque figure, — and 
his example helped to establish the many fine gar- 
dens in the vicinity of Philadelphia. The example 
and precept of Washington also had important in- 
fluence ; for he was constant in his desire and his 
effort to secure every good and new plant, grain. 
