New-York tribune., 1894-01-07
THE BOTANIC GARDEN.
IT'S PROSPECTS AND IT'S AIMS.


Although little has been made public relative I"
the progress of the movement looking toward the
establishment of a great botanic garden in New'
York City or its vicinity the friends OF the plan are
still quietly completing their work OF giving New
York OF the greatest botanical gardens In the
world The legislative part of the plan is practically
completed, the Legislature having authorized the
setting aside of $50 acres of land of Bronx Park
for the of the garden. and the issuing Of $780,
worth of bonds for the erection OF hothouses ana
other plant, provided that sOoOo be raised by pri-
vate subscription for the proposed garden. The
s2500OO has practically been subscribed. j. Pier.
pont Morgan laid plan before the corporators OF
the garden by which to give $4,000
each. in which way the necessary sum was raised.
These ten men have been secured but II is the pur.
pose of the corporators to raise far larger sum
before beginning the building of hothouses the
establishment of the garden. 1t is intended now to
raise another $3.50 600 by $4,000 subscriptions, and
then to ask for a smaller sum- in which way 1t is
hoped to raise almost 100000 besides the s25000o
issued by the city.
one of the men well informed in the affairs Of
the Botanic Garden Society said to Tribune
porter: 1.-THE selection OF Bronx Park site for
the botanic garden Is a most happy one. In fact.
1t is far more desirable site than be offered
by any other great city in the world that know
Of. Few gardens in London not only limited to
a few acres of land, but they situated fat
uninterestlng plain the soil of which is chaky and
poorly adapted TO the requirements of great boz
anic garden Bronx Park is easily accessible
from all parts Of NewYork City. being only twenty
minutes from the Grand Central Depot. 1t can
be reached by few minutes walk from West
Farms station, Moshulu station. and is only three
miles from the Thlrd-ave. bridge over the Harlem
River In the botanic garden at Dublin little
stream adds greatly to the beauty of that garden.
At Bronx Park we have one of the most picturesque
rivers in America flowing through the middle Of
he mark npki phap ing In
park there all kinds of the soil that could be
possibly needed for the varied purposes of the boz
tanic garden Here have the rock SOIL the
mud soil. the marsh soil. the limestone and the
sandy SOIL The grounds undulating in hills
and daes. and most charming. Several great
public drives lead the park. such the drive 10
the Southern Boulevard, which bounds the western
side of the park.
THE plans of the incorporators Of the garden
have been laid on the broadest possible basis. The
first object Is to provide a typical collection of all
living medicinal plants for instruction and amuse-
ment. BY this means all the public schools in New
York city be furnished with living specimens
Of the plants In which they instructed. and the
flowers can be passed from hand to hand, that
the pupils may get the fullest idea of these plants
The second object is to arrange this collection IN
duplicates. they be borrowed by medical and
pharmaceutical colleges for illustration in the class
rooms. The third object is TO furnish herbarun
waiting medicinal plants. 1t is well known that the
bark of the from which qunine is made grew
in such small quantities that 1t could begin to
supply the demand all over the world BY expert
ments made in Kew Garden 1t found that the
tree could be grown to greater advantage in
other countries. and have a almost
unlimited supply Of quinine. The thing has
resulted in the cases Of other medicinal plants IN
Kew Garden. Our fifth object is TO furnish material
In the way CT fresh drugs-that Is. drugs not pre-.
served in any way-so as to form basis of studies
in curing preserving and packing and In determine
ing the relative effects of such processes upon the
products compared with one another and with
fresh drugs sixth. to establish a museum of medi-
cal and pharmaceutical plant products. Seventh.
to reserve part of the greenhouses, say quarter
OF an acre so that scholars in medical colleges can
witness actual experiments in drug plants
students in medicine and pharmacy approach the
subject of botany with particular object in view.
Plants OF a medicinal value have for them
special Importance. With ample means command
1t would be easy to obtain abundant representa-
ton of plants OF this nature. without prejudice 10
the purely scientific character OF the garden. thus
securing for the institution the highest degree Of
pharmaceutic usefulness. and making it an invaua-
be auxiliary to our admirable medicinal schools.
''The horticultural uses of a great botanic garden
are more or less indirect. and yet OF the utmost
consequence to all practical gardeners The hot
houses Of such an institution should be models Of
construction and management: the methods OF cui-
tvatlon should be the best that science and
perlence dictate: the director and his deputies
should be men of the highest ability In their call
ing 1t follows. therefore. that such a garden be-
comes Of necessity a sort of college OF horticulture.
service In which for reasonable term would be
the best possible preparation for practising the
ga ardener's art. Moreover. the primary object OF
botanic garden includes the introduction and culti-
vation OF and untried plants. and consequently
the florist would find gathered there a multitude OF
rare species many OF which might prove desirable
for ornamental cultivation.
The remaining of a botanic garden as a place
OF agreeable and profitable resort for the general
public is by to be lightly estima ted. The
large attendance orchid and chrysanthe-
cultivated for some seasons past In Union Square
by the park authorities: the increased interest given
10 Central Park by the attachment OF name-plateS
TO many of the trees-these circumstances combine
to prove beyond doubt that the public at large
would keenly appreciate n public garden where,
thanks TO systematic grouping and liberal OF
labels, considerable acquaintance with plants might
be readily and pleasantly acquired.
Two American institutions OF kindred nature
the Shaw Garden at ST. Louis. and the Arnold
4 rboretum at Brookline. Mass. already in sue
ressu operation. honorably perpetuating the names
once the student and the general public These
modest affairs. remotely and inconspicuous.y
situated. but botanic garden Of the highest class
established in New York City its immediate
be point to win lasting reputation for itself ana
rs founder both In this country and abroad"
o.