For many years the Harvard Botanic Garden has been the oldest of its kind in America, as the earlier gardens of Bartram and others have long been abandoned. It is one of the oldest scientific departments of the University founded in 1807 and thus is one of the first of field stations for the modern method of laboratory teaching of the sciences, writes S. F. Hamblin, Director of the Botanic Garden discussing interesting phases of this little known department of the University, in the current issue of the Alumni Bulletin.

"It has been the home and workroom of distinguished botanists, such as Nutall and Gray. The first Summer School courses were given her be Dr. Gray. Its influence in past generations has been tremendous in many ways, from inspiration for botanical research to the training of American gardeners.

Development Trend

"Through the natural growth of the science of botany", declares Mr. Hamblin, "gradually the functions of the garden were divided and separated from the parent, in all cases becoming eventually greater departments, through the energy of one or more devoted workers who gained their first inspiration at the Garden. Thus there grew from the seed at the Garden the Summer School, Gray Herbarium, Arnold Aboretum, Botanical Museum, Plant Physiology, and the teaching of botany, all long planted in more favorable locations and now well developed. The purposes now served by these departments were once centered at the Garden, and probably no other department of the University has been so prolific a source of offspring....

Beds Not Yet Prepared

"The program of development of the hardy plants outdoors is not so nearly realized. It will take much further labor and effort to prepare the hard clay soil for the separate plant groups. A few beds are in fairly presentable shape, as samples of what should be done, but for the most part the soil is yet hard, sterile, and overgrown with weeds. Some sections have had no care for over twenty years. Yet some 6,000 species of hardy plants are now growing in the beds, 2,000 are in the cold greenhouse awaiting planting next spring, and over 2,000 species are being sown this winter. The 10,000 species of hardy herbs now listed in the office records include nearly all the species commonly grown and more than half the species known to be in cultivation. The most complete collection of hardy herbs on this continent is now assembled here, but as yet in no condition for inspection or study....

Seeds Exchanged

Exchange of seeds with botanic gardens and amateurs all over the world has increased greatly; at present the seeds received are greatly in excess of those sent out, as 6,000 species were acquired last year, and some 2,000 sent out. This picking and exchanging seed, with the necessary correspondence, is a further burden for which no financial provision is made, as there is as yet no office force for any clerical work. There is material here for unlimited publication on the habits of hardy plants, many now blooming for the first time in this country."