New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-12-24
CITIZENS GAVE THE MONEY.
ORGANIZATION OF THE NETWORK DO
TANIC GARDEN.
MUNICIPAL AID AVAILABLE ONLY AFTER $500
WAS UBsCRIBGD-sIMILAR INSTITUTIONS
AppOAD DEFENDED on ROYAL OR

MUNICIPAL AID AVAILABLE ONLY AFTER s-oooO
WAS suBscRIBGD-slMrLAR INSTITUTIONS
ABROAD DEFENDED OK ROYAL OR
PUBLIC BOUNTY ALTOGETHER.
Nearly all the botanic gardens in foreign coun-
tries were originated and supported by royal boun-
ty or at public expense. The New-fork Botanic
Garden on the other hand. was projected by pri-
yate citizens and partly endowed by them before
a dollar was asked of the municipality. A comparl-
son OF the origin and growth OF the New-forh
garden with those of few noted foreign gardens
Of the same nature will at this juncture nave Pc
cuiar interest Perhaps of the best conducted
although not the best known OF botanic gardens
in Great Britain is the Royal Garden at Gas
neyn. Dublll. About the year Ia" the HieHlpels
Of the Right Honorable and Honouraple Duoiih
Society resolved establish a botanic garden io'
promoting scientific knowledge In the various
branches Of agriculture and planting. as well as
m increas Sc and foster taste for practical ana
scientific botany Soon afterward the Irish Far
lament, acting on his resolution. established ana
endowed the present garden. the hrst grant peI"'
made In $780, and subsequent grants down 10 i'''
amounting TO &, 100 In 1874 a committee Oh HeH-
hers of the society appointed TO take sui'ao'e
ground and to make the necessary arrangements
for starting the project In March. 49, the Lord
pisbop ~ Kln,ore reported In favor OF Gasnevin.
and that place accordingly was selected "a site
for the garden In l7es and In 1879 Parliament ap-
proprated H. 300 and in 1900 the sum OF tiv" SUD-
seouent grants and appropriations were made from
the public purse, but comparatively httle ara mas
been received from private sources. The garden
to-day covers forty-one acres bu' the SUI j. "'' '
best for the growth Of plants
The orIgi, OF the Royal Botanic Gardens al
Kew England will illustrate the growth OF most
botanic gardens in Great Britain. The Kew gar
dens originated in 1859 IN the exotic garden OF LORD
Capel which was purchased by the Prince oil
Wales, son of George II. They were greatly en-
arged by George H. but 1t was not until 1910 that
they become a National establishment when uey
were annexed to the old deer park ana thrown open
70 the puhlic From that time the gardens en-
toyed public bounty. and now have become famous
throughout the world. The Botanic Garueh proper
covers about sXty-nne acres ana the f>'O''e'ui''
IFS which makes a little less acreage than the site
occurred by the New-York Botanic Garden.
GARDENS IN GERMANY.
Berlin has two botanical gardens. small one
behind the university buildings and a larger one
n mile or so away both being founded by royal
bounty The larger garden supplies lso institutions
NJ learning Including 100 public schools with flow
ers and plants 10 illustrate the study OF botany
This means that about three millions OF flowers OF
plants are collected arranged In bundles and sent
to the various schools every year. Each form OF
aower described By the teacher must he illustrated
by a living specimen placed In the hand OF every
member OF the class. There are botanic gardens
in nearly all other German towns which furnish
these practical means OF instruction. In Heidelberg
n handsome garden with glass house. hotbeds
etc have recently been completed. and the forest
trees in the castle yard have been provided with
labels giving their German and Latin names. and
The places from which they came. In nearly every
instance these gardens were founded by royal pleas
ure and are maintained al public expense
The origin OF the New-York Botanic Garden was
the result of private effort NewYork can boast oil
having the finest and largest metropolitan site FOL
n botanic garden In the world. While the projec
has received some public aid the Initial Impulse wa,
strictly from private sources. The idea Of pub
lie botanic garden undoubtedly had been in tn,
minds OF many citizens for a long time An or
ganized effort to realize this idea was made AT
regular meeting OF the Torrey Botanical Clpb helt
January T. 1889 At that meeting II was unanlmousl,
resolved to send broadcast an appeal for public
botanic ga rden." OF which the following Is part;
THE accumulation OF wealth and the growth Of
public spirit In the metropolis make II REASONABLE,
certain that shall have. sooner or later. a pub
lie botanic ga rden OF the highest class The SOLE
question at present seems to be whether we shall
have II very shortly walt another generation fo
its establishment. Strictly speaking. garden Of
this sort IL scientific and educational institution
quite as much as library a college. ana FOL
It's foundation and ma tenance the public may prop
ery look TO the sources from which many o.
our universities and libraries have been derived.
garden such az New-York City ought 10 have woulc
fully equal Ia value such distinguished inssitu