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 MAP AND DESCRIPTION, 
 
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 Botanical (barton. 
 
 1854. 
 
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THE WITHIN DESCRIBED PROPERTY 
 
 Is offered for sale in Lots of about 50 by 200 feet. 
 
 The Streets, Avenues, Parks, &c, are now being laid out 
 and regulated, as designated on the Map annexed, and will 
 be completed by the proprietor, GEORGE I. MANKIN, 
 at his own expense, "as the sale of Lots progresses. 
 
 The Botanical Garden in accordance with the accom- 
 panying plans and drawing has been commenced. 
 
 The price of the Lots is uniformly $40© eacli ? the 
 purchaser choosing from those unsold ; $50 of the pur- 
 chase money to be paid on signing and receiving the con- 
 tract of sale, and $25 to be paid quarterly until $200 shall 
 be paid, when the rest may remain on bond and mortgage 
 for three years, at 7 per cent. 
 
 The purchase money may be paid off before the same 
 shall become due, if the purchaser wish, and discount will 
 be allowed on such payments at the rate of 7 per cent, per 
 annum. 
 
 If default be made in any of the paydj^its before the 
 mortgage is given, any sums before paid shall be forfeited 
 to the seller, at his option. 
 
 The Lots will be conveyed, free of incumbrance, by 
 Warranty Deed. The Deeds shall contain restrictions 
 against nuisances, and against building any house upon 
 the premises which shall cost less than $1500. 
 
 Although the Botanical Garden, as laid down in the 
 Maps, has been already commenced, the proprietor hereby 
 binds himself, to cancel if demanded the contract of any 
 purchaser and refund to said purchaser all the money he 
 has paid on said contract, together with 7 per cent, inter- 
 est, if at the expiration of two years it has not become 
 apparent, that the work is steadily progressing towards 
 completion, 
 
 GEORGE I. MANKIN. 
 
 The subscribers, who are Agents for selling the proper- 
 ty, will meet all persons desirous of visiting it, at their 
 office, Broadway, cor. of Leonard St., at 2J o'clock, P. M., 
 on "Wednesday and Saturday of each week, and will ac- 
 company them to the place. 
 
 F. J. VISSCHER & CO., 
 Appleton's Building, Room No. 5, 
 
 Broadway, cor. of Leonard st, 
 
JPesmjtfim 
 
 Glenn Park, containing 363 acres, bounded on the 
 East by the Harlem Railroad and Bronx River in part, 
 running westerly to the high riclge, lying parallel to the 
 Railroad ; and extending about one mile along the ridge, 
 overlooking the country for about thirty miles in every 
 direction; has been surveyed and laid out in building sites, 
 and is now offered for sale in lots to suit purcha&ers. 
 
 Although this property is nearly five hundred feet above 
 the level of the ocean, the land is not abrupt and broken, 
 but is very handsomely rounded in knolls; and the ascent 
 from the direction of Williams Bridge, about two miles 
 distant, is gradual, and by a picturesque road. The ap- 
 proach from Yonkers — a little over two miles — is also very 
 handsome, though hilly after leaving the turnpike. ^ En- 
 \ Bring the estate by Bronx Avenue, from the Harlem 
 Railroad at West Mount Vernon, or from the iSIew Haven 
 Railroad at Mount Vernon, half-a-mile distant, the ascent 
 is very gradual. 
 
 The design in this undertaking is, to furnish to those 
 seeking it, a respectable, retired, and healthy country resi- 
 dence, avoiding the monotony and crowding of a village, 
 though retaining the advantages of a community. In order 
 to which the avenues are curvilinear, taking within their 
 bounds handsome forest trees, peculiar rocks, waterfalls, &c. 
 The forest trees and wood have been left untouched ; parks, 
 lakes, and cascades to be formed ; the springs ornamented 
 by handsome enclosures, and covered by neat and airy 
 domes ; the brooks deepened, and the banks sodded ; prome- 
 nades and carriage drives, curving with the natural course 
 of the water, and shaded with forest trees ; and the whole 
 
ornameifted by trees and shrubbery of various kinds, planted 
 more in groups than in rows, with the view of unity and 
 the picturesque appearance of the whole. 
 
 The Park contains 15 acres, with a handsome brook 
 running through it ; the growth of timber, mostly white 
 oak, over forty years old. The promenades will be nearly 
 five miles in length, shaded by forest trees now standing. 
 About 30 acres will be retained in meadow, to add, with 
 the groves near them, to the beauty and variety of the 
 landscape. 
 
 Bronx Avenue, commencing at the Railroad, after 
 crossing the Bronx River, traverses a handsome meadow 
 of about 10 acres, a part of the way with the river along- 
 side of the Avenue. The Bronx at this meadow, is shaded 
 on both sides with very large and handsome forest trees, 
 amongst which, and on the banks of the river, it is de- 
 signed to form one of the promenades. After crossing the 
 meadow, the avenue commences the ascent, and is widened 
 to 100 feet ; by this it is not meant that a clear road of 
 that width is to be formed, but the avenue divides into 
 branches, some only 25 feet wide, and unite again in 
 order to preserve the natural wildness of the ravine. 
 Rocks, trees, waterfalls, and wild undergrowth, with the 
 curving roads, render this approach extremely.pictures- 
 <]ue. At the next meadow this avenue attains an elevation 
 of 100 feet above the river. Crossing the second meadow, 
 it again rises to the highest land, but always with a gradual 
 i, scent. 
 
 The meadow avenue presents a very handsome curve 
 along a row of willows, with meadow on its east side, and 
 will probably hereafter form a part of the town road from 
 Williams Bridge to Hunt's Bridge. 
 
 Hart avenue joins Bronx avenue between two splendid 
 hickory trees, the head of one of which, when in foliage, 
 is 80 feet in diameter. 
 
 Penfield avenue has a fine grove on its East, and a 
 meadow on its West side, and its curves take in some very 
 beautiful trees — oaks and white wood ; some of the latter 
 80 feet high. The land between Penfield and Meadow 
 avenues, and Bronx avenue und Hyatt's road, rises 
 about 150 feet above the river, having Hart Avenue 
 nearly on the highest part of the ridge, and is about 50 feet 
 
above Penfield avenue, and the same above the level of 
 Bronx avenue at the second meadow. 
 
 Gardner avenue surrounds land of about the same 
 altitude as that between Penfield and Meadow avenues ; 
 the westerly part of the land is in wood, and is hand- 
 somely sloped by several knolls, while the eastern part, 
 with all the land north of Gardner avenue presents a 
 nearly level piece of table land, having fine prospects of 
 Mount Vernon and the surrounding country, and reaching 
 at the northern extremity a lake and narrow ravine about 
 50 feet below the surface, embosomed in wood and rock 
 of the wildest description. This table land, on the North- 
 east, is terminated by a series af natural rocky terraces, 
 now set out with grape vines. 
 
 Palisade avenue, branching from Bronx avenue, runs 
 through a vale, and making a curve to the West, reaches 
 the table land just described. 
 
 ' Park avenue is nearly level, and has meadow on its 
 east side the entire length, except where it passes through 
 the Park. On its west side it has handsome trees in groups 
 and groves. From this avenue, and also from Gardner 
 avenue, and from the junction of Gardner, Bronx, and 
 Penfield avenues, handsome vistas open, taking in lovely 
 landscapes. 
 
 The Tuckahoe road is the town road ; in some places 
 low, in 'others on elevated ground and much of it runs 
 through thick growths of cedars, trees and bushes, curving 
 gracefully among them, and hid in many places from the 
 surrounding lots. 
 
 The carriage drive and promenade run along the sides 
 of a brook, surrounded by forest trees. From the brook, 
 on both sides, the land rises pretty rapidly but evenly, so 
 that all the avenues south of the brook, and most of those 
 north of the brook, present prospects unsurpassed for ex- 
 tent and beauty. The view to the North reaches to the 
 Highlands ; to the West, the Palisades, their entire length, 
 with the farm houses on their summits ; to the South, a vast 
 extent of woodland, cultivated fields, farm houses, man- 
 sions and villages, High Bridge, the Lunatic Asylum 
 at Bloomingdale, and beyond all, New York 'City, Brook- 
 lyn, Williamsburgh, Long and Staten Islands, the Observa- 
 tory at Cypress Hills Cemetery, and the country residences 
 
6 
 
 on Staten Island; to the South-east and East, Long Island, 
 mth its houses and villages, inlets and light-houses, and 
 occasionally the smoke of the locomotive on the Long Is- 
 land Railroad, also Long Island Sound, dotted with stea- 
 mers and sailing craft, Fort .Schuyler, Pelham Bridge, 
 Hunter's and other Islands ; and nearer by, Mount Vernon 
 in full view, and a rich landscape presenting every variety 
 of scenery, and enlivened by the hourly passing of the 
 Harlem and the New Haven railroad cars. To the North- 
 east the prospect reaches to Connecticut, and the Sound 
 stretches far away beyond Huntington. Point and its light- 
 house, making the whole length of view on the Sound, from 
 the city, probably 60 miles. The prospect will fully bear 
 out any description that can be given of it. 
 
 Nimhani avenue is perfectly straight, 70 feet wide, and 
 over a mile in length. It is named after an Indian chief 
 who was slain on the ground, and probably within the line 
 of the avenue, during the Revolutionary war, fighting on 
 the side of the Americans. Battle Avenue and Indian 
 Road are so named to commemorate the same engagement, 
 as they run directly across the battle-field. 
 
 It is designed to plant elms the whole length of Nimham 
 Avenue, in groups. Indeed all the avenues, lakes, prome- 
 nades, drives, cascades, &c, &c, will be shaded by trees 
 of various kinds, evergreens and deciduous. 
 
 In addition to the three Railroads — the Harlem, New 
 Haven and Hudson River — now giving hourly access ; a 
 new Railroad is proposed running either directly to or very 
 near Glenn Park, and designed to intercept at the Harlem 
 River all the City Railroads. 
 
 Further particulars given by F. J. VISSCHER & CO., 
 Appteton's Building, Broadway, cor. of Leonard St., 
 where large Maps can be seen. 
 
REMARKS 
 
 ON THE DRAWING OF THE BOTANICAL GARDEN 
 
 AT 
 
 GLENN PARK. 
 
 BY W. BENQUE. 
 
 The foregoing drawing, representing the idea of a Botanical Garden 
 to be established at Glenn Park, requires in order to be correctly under- 
 stood, a few explanatory remarks. 
 
 It is not possible for the art of drawing, to represent a Garden in 
 which every object both of nature and art shall appear in its proper 
 proportions. If for instance the trees and shrubbery should be exhibited 
 in their real extent, the walks and buildings, and other smaller objects 
 would be mostly rendered invisible, since from which ever side viewed, 
 they would be concealed by the verdure of lofty trees and shrubbery, 
 and thus the eye would receive anything but the true representation 
 intended. 
 
 Even the so-called bird-perspective, in which the objects appear as 
 when seen from a considerable height, would meet with the same diffi- 
 culties. For that reason recourse has been had in Garden-plans to the 
 so-called situation-drawing, in which method the buildings are only 
 designated by their ground plan, and the trees, to distinguish them from 
 the shrubbery, by short stems, but so diminutive, that it still gives rise 
 to the question, what the garden really contains. 
 
 In this point of view let the foregoing sketch be regarded. To make 
 the principal objects of this Botanical Garden more intelligible however, 
 the artist has represented his idea of the buildings to be erected, by little 
 separate views on the margin of the plan. The letters corresponding on 
 the plan and views, show at what spot the respective objects are to be 
 sought, and vice versa how the buildings when erected will appear. The 
 borders of the plan on the North and West, show the streets which are 
 designated by name thereon. As far as room permitted, the situation 
 and numbers of the adjoining building lots offered for sale, have been 
 designated. 
 
8 
 
 With these preliminary remarks, we come to the Botanic Garden it- 
 self, and inquire first as to its objects. It is intended : — 
 
 I st } To furnish the scientific study of the vegetable kingdom with 
 more extensive material than the local Flora offers. 
 
 2nd, To present to the popular eye the immense richness of the vege- 
 tation of our Earth, of the different countries and zones, and thus 
 excite to the study of Botany, of which particularly the Ladies 
 are generally fond. 
 
 3rd, To contribute to the pleasures arising from the view of natural 
 objects in general, to form a taste for the beautiful in nature, to 
 lead to a more extensive cultivation of plants, and also to furnish 
 specimens and instruction. 
 
 It affords the physician, the druggist and apothecary an opportunity 
 of becoming more closely acquainted, by growing specimens, with the 
 plants which pass daily through their hands in fragments and preparations. 
 A perfect accomplishment in their profession makes the study of botany 
 a necessity for these men, and this the Botanical Garden alone will fully 
 meet, in other branches of science too it lends a helping hand. It 
 shows more truly than pen can describe, or pencil paint, the physical 
 features of the most distant parts of the earth, if not in all, yet in their 
 principal manifestations ; for this reason Botany constitutes an important 
 part of Geography. He who with the assistance of a botanical garden 
 has made himself acquainted with the myriad forms of vegetable exis- 
 tence, finds old acquaintances in every land where circumstances may 
 subsequently lead him. To mention a practical advantage : the poison- 
 ous plants, everywhere to be found, have carried off, and do still carry 
 off, many a victim of ignorance ; the Botanical Garden collects them to- 
 gether, in order by instruction to warn of their deadly qualities. Besides 
 this scientific and practical utility, the Botanical Garden is of interest 
 to the man of business, and to the mechanic, by presenting to him i*. 
 living forms, the foreign products which call forth the grandest commer- 
 cial speculations, and give activity to navigation and trade. It thus 
 diffuses knowledge and correct ideas even among those whom curi- 
 osity alone has drawn to it. We may say lastly, as the highest object of 
 the Botanical Garden, which includes all others : it is to every one a 
 means of culture ; it leads the mind to contemplate the interesting vege- 
 table kingdom, and fills it with those charming images, which in all 
 times, and among all nations of the Earth, have graced the most beau- 
 tiful poetical productions. 
 
 The raising and care of plants of other zones make it necessary to 
 have arrangements for producing artificially the climate of those regions ; 
 the more perfectly this is attained, the more thrifty they will appear. 
 Plants are more limited in their locality, and the range in which they 
 propagate, than animals. They support no great variation from their 
 proper climate ; they cannot become accustomed to it; and therefore 
 
9 
 
 the so-called acclimating of plants is a chimera. They demand, for their 
 healthy growth, all the conditions of their existence, and if these fail, 
 they dwindle or die. 
 
 Among the first requisites of a Botanical Garden are glass or green- 
 houses, which should be so constructed that the plants may receive as 
 much light as possible, (not from the South side alone ;) that the degree 
 of heat may be produced which the nature of the plants require ; and 
 that the degree of moisture of the air may be in like manner regulated. 
 When the apparatus for heating is thus properly constructed, that in all 
 parts of the interior, the upper as well as lower, a degree of warmth as 
 uniform as possible exists; and the arrangement is such, tbat the bouses 
 may be quickly and easily covered, as well against the cold of Winter, 
 as the violent heat of the sun in Summer ; and the ventilation so per- 
 fectly and judiciously contrived that by the admission of fresh air the 
 plants are not directly subjected to the cold current ; — art is then fur- 
 nished with all the necessary means to succeed in producing the climate 
 desired, and to sustain the plants of any region, so that they are seen 
 at a glance to be in a healthy state. 
 
 These fundamental conditions, which ought never to be lost sight of, 
 make it apparent tbat but little regard to architectural style is necessary 
 in the building of green-houses. Practical adaptation to the end in 
 view must remain under all circumstances the principal object, and 
 mere external elegance should be secondary. To meet this adaptation, 
 the artist is required, in his design of glass-houses, to fix the relative 
 extent and height of the interior space by the nature of the plants in- 
 tended to occupy the same. He is permitted, in order to avoid too great 
 sameness, to draw certain divisions in the uniform front, but not so as 
 to make any part of it face the North, and a limited measure of orna- 
 ment in the iron frames of the houses, and the use of colored glass, to 
 break the monotonous surfpce, may be allowed, but the means of pro- 
 ducing grand effect extend no farther. 
 
 How far the artist has succeeded, in the foregoing sketch of the glass- 
 houses, "A," regard being had both to groundplan and view, in uniting 
 the requirements necessary according to the foregoing principles, with 
 gracefulness of form, we will leave forjudges to decide. To enter into 
 the particulars of tb construction, as for instance the placing of the 
 furnaces so as not to o." .figure the building, to describe the manner in 
 which the warmth is conducted and diffused, &c„, would exceed the 
 limits of these remarks. We will therefore proceed to the question, what 
 separate departments ire necessary in the glass-houses, to meet the 
 requisites of a botanical garden as already mentioned. 
 
 It requires : 
 
 1st, A department, in which plants are only kept through winter, in 
 pots, boxes and tabs, in a temperature of from 32 to 40 degrees 
 of Fahrenheit, and called for this reason a conservatory. This 
 
10 
 
 department does not necessarily require a glass roof, as the plants 
 are carried into the open air in the beginning of Summer, during 
 which the space remains empty The hall u a", supported by six 
 pillars, constituting the central part of the building is destined 
 for this purpose. The spaces between the pillars are closed in 
 Winter with moveable windows, which are removed at the same 
 time with the plants, which consist of orange, myrtle and laurel 
 trees, of rose, and rhododendron species, &c In the Winter, this 
 hall forms the connexion between the principal departments of 
 the building right and left, which may be passed through from 
 one to the other without interruption. 
 
 2nd, A so-called palm-house, which is the octagon structure on the 
 right of the hall, " b," (including part of the adjoining semi-circle 
 "c,") and in which in winter a warmth of from 55 to 65 degrees, 
 with a moist atmosphere, must be kept. Here tropical plants, in 
 all their wonderful formations ; palms, sago trees, stemmed ferns, 
 &c, artificially produced, present to the beholder the most ma- 
 jestic specimens of the products of our Earth. The arrangement 
 is that of a winter garden, the plants chiefly growing in the open 
 ground ; rocks arise in the interior, partially covered with ver- 
 dure and easily surmounted ; creeping plants deck the beams 
 and pillars, forming garlands from one to another, and covering 
 arbors and seats ; fountains and waterfalls, conducted here in 
 winter instead of without, add to the variety ; and even a few 
 beautiful kinds of birds may be admitted As the most beautiful 
 tropical orchis species are indigenous to the same soil as the palm, 
 these plants will therefore be quite at home in the same depart- 
 ment. The eye of the Botanist, as well as that of the simple lover 
 of flowers, rests with peculiar pleasure upon these plants, which in 
 richness of coloring, and variety of form, exceed all description. 
 Their manner of growing, which is chiefly swinging high in the 
 air, in which situation they bear their splendid flowers often of 
 the greatest fragrance, renders them a remarkable embellishment 
 of the palm-house. The vanilla plant belongs to the orchis 
 species. 
 
 3rd, The general hot-house, which is the remaining part of the semi- 
 circle, "c," in which half tropical plants are kept, and which 
 requires a temperature of from 50 to 55 degrees, and a moist 
 atmosphere. Here belong the coffee tree, the sugar stalk, the 
 dragon tree species, a part of the fern species, the splendid bul- 
 bous plants Amaryllis, Crinum, Pancratium, the tuberous plants 
 Arum, Gloxinia, Gesnerea, nearly all the aromatic plants, the cin- 
 namon and pepper tree, the banana and the pine apple, the cow 
 tree, and other interesting species. 
 
11 
 
 Ath, The last department on the right side, l 'd,'* will be treated of 
 hereafter. 
 
 &th, The so-called Cape or New Holland house, which is the depart- 
 ment on the left of the hall, "e," including a part of the semi- 
 circle on this side, "f," and in which the plants of Southern 
 Africa and Australia are kept. These require in winter a tem- 
 perature of from 40 to 45 degrees, and a diy atmosphere corre- 
 sponding to that of their native regions, in which rain is so rarely 
 known. Here are the beautiful species of the Acacia, Banksia, 
 Melaleuca, Nerium, Protea, Metrosideros, fyc, which exhibit their 
 peculiar forms, their tops without leaves, but often covered with 
 flowers the more. Here belong also the elegant Erica and Epa- 
 cris species, and many other ornamental plants furnished us 
 chiefly from the Cape of Good Hope In regard to the arrange- 
 ments of the plants in this department, it is to be observed that 
 many of them, as in the palm-house, particularly such as have lofty 
 stems, grow in the open ground, while those in pots are arranged 
 to embellish them, which gives to the whole the appearance of a 
 winter garden, like the other department. 
 
 6th, The Cactus-house, which takes up the remaining part of the left 
 semi-circle, for which a temperature of 45 to 50 degrees, and a 
 moist atmosphere is necessary, these plants being chiefly found 
 on the dry table lands of Central and South America, where their 
 truly grotesque forms, with all their pomp of flowers, give the 
 landscape so peculiar and strange an appearance. We may men- 
 tion here, to show the great variety of this plant, that in European 
 Gardens about 600 different kinds are cultivated. 
 
 1th, The two extreme departments of the glass-house in front, right 
 and left, "d" and "g," are intended for ornamental plants, which 
 have properly but little botanic interest, as their great variety is 
 produced by artificial grafting, so that the form of the original 
 plant can scarcely be recognized. Here belong the most kinds 
 of Camellia, Cineraria, Calceolaria, Fuchsia, Pelargonium, Azalea, 
 Petunia, Verbena, fyc. The warmth in winter should be about 40 
 degrees, and the atmosphere more dry than moist. It is too well 
 known to be mentioned, with what fullness of flowers these plants 
 are covered, making the departments that contain them, nearly 
 the whole year through, like sparkling caskets of jewels. 
 
 With the establishment of these departments, it is easy to assign to 
 the plants from every corner of the earth, except the Arctic regions, their 
 proper climate, and ensure their consequent thrift, provided of course 
 regard be paid to. their natural economy, and the same mixture of soil 
 be afforded as that to which they are indigenous. The principal trea- 
 suries from which botanical gardens and green-houses are supplied, 
 are Central and South America, where the paucity of inhabitants 
 
12 
 
 has changed very little the face of the country, and where nature 
 appears in all the pomp of a tropical climate. The vicinity of these 
 regions, and the lively commerce between them and North America^ 
 make it comparatively easy, to obtain thence original specimens! Eng- 
 land has acquired in this way her vegetable treasures, and although the 
 naturally uniform climate there is more favorable to the raising of plants 
 than here, where the climate is more subject to extremes, yet the task 
 of Art is only thus somewhat increased ; there is no need to despair of 
 equalling England in thi3 branch of culture. It is necessary for this 
 indeed, that the taste of men of capital should be directed to nature and 
 her most beautiful productions. In England, the park with its adjoin- 
 ing grounds is the pride and glory of the whole family, whose history is 
 connected with every part of it. America for centuries to come, will 
 suffer no want of productive ground, and social life with its requirements 
 will suffer no prejudice, if the rich man, by the laying out of parks and 
 their appurtenances, should enter into treaty with nature. Many a ray 
 of light would thus fall upon the weary pathway of even the common 
 laborer. 
 
 It remains to say a few words in reference to the room adjoining the 
 hall on the North, "h," and also in reference to the cupola of the build- 
 ing supported by a double row of pillars (see the view). The Botanical 
 Garden is pre-eminently devoted to science; but as science begins gradually 
 to lay aside the strictly sytematic form, excluding all outward grace, and 
 approaching social life, seeks to infuse into it philosophic views, such 
 an institution may occasionally bring together social circles and for this 
 purpose the room "h ; " is intended, which is to be a tastefully furnished 
 saloon. It is in direct communication with the principal departments 
 of the green-houses, which may be entered from it. The pleasure of 
 this, particularly in winter, when the temperature of these winter gardens 
 is in such striking contrast with nature without, will be readily con- 
 ceived. This however will probably be the exclusive priviledge of such 
 companies as consist of inhabitants of Glenn Park, whose interest in the 
 preservation of the garden, will prevent any injury to the plants. 
 
 The flat roof of the hall, as well as the cupola may be arranged for 
 an astronomical observatory. This point commands on every side an 
 extensive prospect. There will be room enough to set up the necessary 
 instruments, as the space over the saloon can be taken for the same 
 purpose. The interior concave surface of the cupola may have painted 
 upon it a representation of the firmament of our Northern hemisphere 
 with all its brilliant stars and constellations. 
 
 These intimations will suffice to draw attention to the local advant- 
 ages here for the establishment of schools and other institutions of 
 learning. It would not be easy to find in America a place offering such 
 prospects to vertability of learning as Glenn Park. 
 
 We come now to the garden grounds, which in the drawing occupy the 
 
13 
 
 middle part of the sheet. Favored by the locality, the two directly oppo- 
 site styles of gardening are brought into practice, viz. the regular or French 
 style, and the irregular, natural, or English style. It is evident that in 
 a plot or garden fronting a symmetrical edifice, the French style is gen- 
 erally better than the English: as in the regular partition of the ground, 
 the arrangement of the trees and flowers, the placing of objects of art, 
 as pedestals, statues, vases, &c, all in symmetrical order ; the archi- 
 tecture of the building is as it were continued, and transferred to the 
 garden, by which the effect of the whole is strengthened. These mo- 
 tives have induced the artist, to sketch in the vicinity of the glass- 
 houses, a so-called French garden parterre, which as the distance in- 
 creases, is gradually transformed to the English garden. Straight lines 
 denote the French taste, while crooked walks and irregular grouping of 
 trees and shrubs show the English style. 
 
 As the smallness of the drawing does not allow every part of this 
 parterre to be clearly enough exhibited, we will endeavour by a few 
 words of explanation to make it more intelligible. 
 
 The central part of the parterre contains a canal "i," which before 
 the hall expands into a basin, from the middle of which a fountain rises 
 from 30 to 35 feet high. The canal is bordered by a stone parapet, 3 
 feet high. This parapet has in it niche-like openings provided with 
 seats. On each side of the canal, run regularly divided parterres, bor- 
 dered by flower beds, and ornamented besides with elegant groups of 
 shrubbery. In the centre of the parterres, are pedestals supporting 
 statues ; the corners of these plots are also suitable for similar orna- 
 ments, which need not be however more than half the height of the 
 central ones. Xear the glass-houses, the parterre opens more, as the 
 line of trees partly closes, and partly diverging from their former direc- 
 tion, yield the intervening space to similarly decorated surface. Between 
 the parallel lines of trees, are shady walks, which afford sufficient pro- 
 menades for a numerous public. 
 
 At the opposite end of the canal, (near "1,") the ground suddenly 
 falls about 12 feet. The whole thus regularly and squarely formed, is repre- 
 sented in the view "B." In the central point "m" rises a slender column 
 which may be devoted to commemorate some great event, or some su- 
 blime idea, and for this purpose symbolically crowned. The structure 
 in front of the middle terrace "n" should be massively built. It would 
 be pains well applied, to vault the latter, so that the communication 
 should extend behind the waterfall ("o") from one stairway to the other. 
 This place would be a pleasant resort in summer. The little basin into 
 which the cascade falls, might contain in the midst of its rocky centre, 
 a representation of a group of playing children cut in white marble. 
 The two pavilion-like structures on the terrace, "p," would be suitable 
 dwellings for the men employed in the garden. The view U G" gives a 
 correct idea of the terrace and its appurtenances. 
 
14 
 
 On both sides of this, right and left, the ground rises to the same 
 hight; here the 'terrace is separated; three verandas, "g," rising one 
 above another, take -up the base as well as the intervening spaces of the 
 terrace, and bound the side view. The beds "r" in the form of a cross r 
 are taken up by that great division of plants called by the general name 
 of perennial plants, the peculiarity of which is, that the whole stalk 
 above ground dies off every year, but the roots continue to live, and 
 every summer send forth new shoots and flowers. Each plant of this 
 kind grows entirely separate, and has its own botanical name. In the 
 corner plots are elegantly formed reservoirs in the ground, calculated 
 for swimming plants ; a subterrenean communication from the basin a o" 
 supplies them with water. 
 
 This concludes that part of the garden called the French style. 
 We come now to the winding lines of path and road, the irregular 
 scattered groups of trees and shrubbery, which characterize the Eng- 
 lish taste. In these grounds two principal divisions are to be distin- 
 guished, the one in which scientific interest prevails, the other artistic. 
 The one gathers around the glass-houses, and along the sides of the 
 parterre as far as it extends ; the other prevails in the more distant parts 
 of the gardnn, and around objects which will be mentioned hereafter. 
 The scientific point of view reveals itself in the parts mentioned, by the 
 circumstance that the shrubbery is not found in thickly closed masses, 
 but scattered loosely about; every tree and shrub has the situation most 
 favorable to its natural economy, in which it can develope itself to the 
 greatest perfection: the botanic object demands this. The thick growth 
 of plants together, so prejudicial to the full developement of each, can- 
 not meet this end, but only such as are open to the air and its action on 
 every side. The winding pathways that immediately join the straight 
 walks of the parterre are bordered by groups of trees and shrubbery, 
 which are particularly devoted to scientific study ; each tree and shrub 
 is provided with its scientific name. One after another the different 
 species of oak, maple, walnut, pine, &c, succeed, presenting toHhe eye 
 of the beholder their characteristic forms. The free and open situation 
 of the trees and shrubbery, near natural pathways, and their growing 
 in scattered groups, makes it possible for the artist carrying out the 
 plan, after giving sufficient attention to the scientific end in view, to pay 
 some regard to artistic effect. In general, these groups, considering the 
 great proportion supplied by North America, will have the character of 
 the forest vegetation, as found in the Northern and Middle States. The 
 representatives of the Southern States, however, the beautiful species of 
 Magnolia, are found near "t," on a Southern declivity of ground, in a 
 protected situation, where with a little covering they will winter well in 
 this climate. As the reader is now in this part of the garden, it must 
 be confessed that the artist, tempted by the favorable situation, could 
 not help sketching near "u" three vine terraces. The much abused 
 
15 
 
 vine belongs still to the plants of our earth, and connot well be excluded 
 from a place in a botanical garden, To allay all fears however, we must 
 here mention, that the sketch contains neither a temple of Bacchus, nor 
 a wine press. The cultivation of the vine here is only intended to afford 
 a few grapes for those who are fond of them. It may be added here 
 that the garden has three entrances, each of which is provided with a 
 porters' lodge, in order to exercise some control, if necessary, over those 
 who frequent it. 
 
 The demands of science are thus sufficiently met on every side ; the 
 remaining part of the grounds extending towards the south, and limited 
 by the bounds of the garden, are given over purely to art, which may 
 here show what attractions it is capable of creating. 
 
 The impression produced by a garden of itself, without the effect of 
 suitable buildings, is with most men but feeble. For this reason, such 
 objects should be erected, whereever the locality is inviting. It is then 
 the task of the artist, to regulate the natural scenery adjoining, in corre-' 
 spondence thereto. The ground plan of three such edifices in the draw- 
 ing shows their situation, and views of the same are given on the mar- 
 gin of the sheet denoted by the corresponding letters "D," "E" and "P." 
 A few words as to each of these structures will be necessary. 
 
 In sketching and situating the temple U D," the artist was reminded 
 of Apollo, the God of Music and Song, whose statue consequently occu- 
 pies a pedestal in the centre. Standing somewhat raised on a penin- 
 sular, near a clear sheet of water, and a small murmuring water-fall, 
 the view over an open meadow, and surrounded by an airy grove — such 
 scenery will suit the mythical Apollo. 
 
 The ruin "E," constructed of rough pieces of rock as weather-beaten 
 as possible is easily put up from material on the spot, the removal 
 of which would have cost as much as its present application. An ele- 
 vation at this spot favors the structure, and makes it impressive. It 
 forms in its coarseness a lively contrast to the noble temple style, and 
 thus raises that the more. To the proper scenery belongs a shady situ- 
 ation, produced by pine trees and overhanging plants, growing also 
 upon and in the ruins. Creeping plants covering the stone work, find 
 here also their proper place. 
 
 The grounds near "F" are laid out as a Chinese garden, in which the 
 whole arrangement of buildings, flower beds, walks and seats exhibit 
 the quaintest elegance ; not indeed so odd as the Chinese originals, but 
 according to the rules of a refined taste. The Chinese garden was ori- 
 ginally the model of the English style. It is not, however, to do homage 
 to this fact, that the occasion is taken, to exhibit the scenery of the 
 Celestical empire ; it is done because such grounds seem to accord 
 best with the end in view. The idea has occured to the artist, to 
 enliven this garden with a colony of singing birds. This will not seem 
 far-fetched to those, who have heard a European spring, announced 
 
16 
 
 from every bush, in almost every form of warbled song. The arrange- 
 ment may be as follows : the island with its little temple, as denoted on 
 the drawing, is covered with a net of wire, forming different separate 
 departments, in which the various kinds of birds, notwithstanding their 
 imprisonment, may take limited nights in the open air. Other depart- 
 ments without, connected with little houses, into which the birds resort 
 at night and in stormy weather, and where they have their nests, corre- 
 spond to the former. Birds of beautiful plumage also, if not too sensa- 
 tive^ as for instance the splendid gold and silver pheasants, can here 
 find suitable quarters. — The large Chinese cottage on the brook, would 
 afford suitable accommodations for persons employed in the garden. 
 
 In reference to the arrangement of the trees and shrubbery in general 
 we can only say that a beautiful existing wood will serve as a basis. 
 The drawing shows further two bodies of water, the one flowing con- 
 tinually, runs already through the land, though indeed as yet in. another 
 direction, the other is conducted hither, to raise by the charm of water, 
 the character of the landscape. The hand of the artist has now so to 
 regulate, that the walks be as much as possible shaded, yet that the 
 light occasionally break through, and that light and dark shade succeed 
 as the scenery demands ; that here and there blooming shrubbery attend 
 the clustering trees, or stand alone, forming heavy masses of verdure, 
 but particularly follow the water course, sometimes vaulting it over, so 
 as to conceal it from the eye, and again attending its banks only to be 
 mirrored in its surface. The correct management of these scattered 
 groups belongs to the finest delineations of art. Seen from whatever 
 side the beholder may stand, they should present themselves, succeed- 
 ing each other picturesquely, and while the view is taken as a whole, 
 their varying forms and verdure must be considered. No mere mechan- 
 ical study and experience can in this constitute the artist ; only a lively 
 fancy and poetical inspiration will be able, out of such materials, to raise 
 a work of art, whose end is idealized nature. — But enough of the theme. 
 It is not intended to fill volumes with the mere sketch which the Artist 
 considered necessary to accompany his drawing, in order to explain, 
 in regard to special locality, the Botanical Garden at Glenn Park, 
 or in general, to raise a desire for correctly managed gardens and 
 parks. With the more obvious object, let not the further one be alto- 
 gether forgotten. 
 
. " ■ 1 
 
 
 $ 
 
 
 
MSIESS^IK 
 
 *>«& :• c° 
 
 
 REMARKS 
 
 ON THE 
 
 1M1II 
 
 OP THE 
 
 otaitiral i*rta 
 
 ®bsm ftoslh. 
 
 W. BENQUE. 
 
 1854. 
 
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