New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-06-25
BARTRAM'S FAMOUS GARDEN

IT'S PRESENT pEcAYIYG CoNDTToN--soME or TIT
BOTANICAL TREASURES AND CuRIosTTEs 1T CON

~
Of its historic associations and ready, rs n
GENERAL thing TO preserve the records OF its pro-
hence in tins respect IL seems remarkable that 80
little is known here of Barirams Garden, anu 'i''
no effort is made to save il from INJURY oo''i
or dccav Attention has already been called by lhh
rp,pr-vr in an article partly descriptive OF TINS at
horetu,n 70 This strange fact Few persons mere
rr,reptIv are aware that within the limits OF inc
city still exists the first botanical garueh On 'i'
/ continental venerable museum OF lr'cS anu 'i
| bo-,- crouped about house haowed by aSsocIF
tisns of n century and half, and IN wIncn ""sn-
i,oton franklin jefferson and other noble patrloCS
wore freoucnt visitors This garden has been an
bioct of interest to students of botany the "oriu
o,,er for n century past. Unique in its character
and extent on this side Of the water 1t early DC
| came somewhat famous. it is more often Vislleu
now by foreigners journeying IN tins country Una"
| hv Americans. and even TO find the way to 1t one
! has TO depend upon giide-book or seek lhIoIHla
tion from some lover of the science in which Johh
Bortram was pioneer, for the ordinary cluzeh
! knows it not.
The Garden is now known as the Eastwick race
II 10 situated on the west bank of the Scbuylklll
lttlo below Gray's Ferry commanding delghIi"
view of the luxurant river banks. 1t was origin
ally retired from the great road leading south, but
the commercial spirit of the age has invaded It's
sacred precincts and now railroad passes through
n deep cut directly in the rear of the house. Inc
classic spot where for so many years things curious
| and beautiful in nature were cultivated, trained
and developed by a master hand, Is fast gong 10
wreck and ruin and is already marked for destruc-
ton by the irreyerent hands that now gliide the
city's affairs. public street was surveyed through
the GaI1cn months ago but it has not yet been lau
ont. A comparatively small sum OF money womb
purchase the ground and it Is matter OF Wohuor
! that no movement has been made by PmadeiphlahS
70 save the Garden from destruction and restore it
to its former state when it offered so many ad-
| yantapes for the study of natures handiwork. II
purchased by the city and dedicated as public
| porI, under thc name OF Barram's Garden 1t would
offer advantages as a guiding post to aspiring youth
and n resting place for old age of no mean Vaiue'
LIFE WORTH STUDYING.
The life of John Bartram. the founder OF the Gar-
dem is we'll worthy OF study. lie holds high place
IN tbe anpals of the science IN which he was one OF
| the pioneers and be was a noble example Of "hat
can be accomplished in the face OF great dlilcu'Ie'
! Already a man in middle life before he began 10
study botany. he yet lived to accomplish much ior
,ts oGvoncc,ncnt Ogc day, while resting under n
tree after ploughing, he attracted to the curl
ouq formation of flower, and he resolved to eStdD-
lisb school of science and phiosophyn the bloom
inc fields of Flora lie had only such an education
nc could be- acquired in q country school OF those
DAYS but he perscvcrcd under difficulties, ana soon
| ocouired knowledge of Latin, and became the
| friend and correspondent of Liunrus, fothergllI,
| Grousinus and other Gi tingushcd naurailStS Al
the request OF some of his friends III Europe he IN
,ttuted and satisfactorily conducted series OF eA-
pcrmcnts on the lychnis dioica illustrative OF the
| scvc. nj plants and corroboraiye of those preyi
| ously made upon Indian corn by James Logan, the
secretary of william Penn. An interchangeable OBJ
server of nature travelling far and wide at his own
! evpensc though only farmer of moderate means,
| he obtained possession Of great variety OF new,
| bcautiful and useful trees and shrubs and herba-
| ceous plants with specimens OF which he adorned
| his garden Partly to his zeal and industry his
counrrymen are indebted for their knowledge OF the
| floral beauties which decorate their valleys and
| hillsides and mountain tops and winch beSpangio
the prarics impart magnitcenco 10 the forests ana
shed a delicious fragrance over the land, and 1t
seems passing strange that in this city ana state oil
| his birth and development his memory should al
| most be forgotten and the great monument OF his
| l,bors which he took 50 much care to build now
| allowed to 20 to decay ana destruction
| BAHrRAMs HOUSE AND NEGHBoRs.
| The ancient county of Chester adjoining Phila-
| dolpbia on the south and west, in which Bartram
was born was originally settled by the countrymen
of Iinnmus aud their descendants still flourish III
| the same region PENIS followers mingled blood
| with Il
Swinging blade. the opening bud the blooming
! flower and the ripcniug fruit with which nature
seemed alive in all but infinite varieties about them
would seem TO be ind genous with the jewellers IN
| that rcqion among whom Friend Blrtram met Will
murh announcement. lie began work on his bo-
tancal garden I'm l72S and soOn after erected with
! his own hands the quaint and curious Ola stone
house which still remains in good state oil pr'Ser-
! walton. II j. fine specimen OF SOLID ma5iiIy win
even come attempt at ornament around the base ana
! canitals of the windows. Bartrlm was often seen
working alone on this house by moonlight alter
day Of toll The inscriptions on the stones IN the
woI can bc read a. distinctly rs if they were only
! one day instead of l5l years old. One reads:
"John Ann Bartram; 1881"
Some idea of his religious creed may he had from
mons di,tich cugaycu by his own hand IN very con
| irnui window of the apartment winch destined
for study and philosophical retirement
! at cod alone. Amyty Lord
| The lioy one by me adord
john Bartram, 1870"
This is said to have been the cause of Bartrams ex
pulsion from the Society of ftrn 5, OK Wmch ne was
! ~ one time 4 mcmber Tins interesting old house
! /, now occupied by q family from the Lnerall Isle
whose chicl care apparently is Tor their pigs ana
poultry. .,.,,.., -,,,. .s,.r,,s
The Garden itself as has already been stated in
THE TRIBUNE, is now very like a tangled wildwood.
Many of its old characteristics, however, still re-
main but there a painful absence of any care for
its venerable treasures, and the tcrraccd walks,
once surrounded by flowers which Bartram cultl-
waited for their beauty and fragrance, have all dis
appeared.
The stately express tree croWning with itsnagnit-
ccnce the centre of the Garden mas cXclteI the al
miratlon of thousands. Ii was brought from Flor
ida by Bartram in one of his saddlc-bags and
planted where it now stands 1873 years ago. Then
| but a twig, It has now reached IN altitude OF 40
feet and measures 2si feet III circumference at the
base There was probably creator variety OF IN