Chapter II: Front Matter (2)

Baumann’s great maple grew on ground which once belonged to “White Cottage,” an estate at one time owned by the Logans. Here lived Dr. Samuel Betton, who was succeeded by his son, Dr. Thomas Forrest Betton, the friend of Rafinesque, and here under Samuel Betton, its present occupant and owner, William Kulp, well known to many of us, has been many years gardener. Recent changes have robbed “White Cottage” of its seclusion, but with it yet continue many beautiful ivy-dressed trees, which spread their branches over the grounds, in season almost shielding the house from view.

Near General Wayne Hotel, on Manheim street, is a specially fine ailanthus (ailanthus glandulosus) 2½ feet in diameter of trunk, with a height of 50 feet, and at the Keyser-Rodney House, Main and Duval streets, and on Garrett’s Hill, opposite Lovett Library are conspicuous superior specimens. Also on Manheim street, near Main street, is a honey-locust tree (gleditschia triacanthos) with a trunk 3 feet in diameter by 80 feet high, and larger and finer specimens are on Pulaski avenue, near Seymour street, and in front of Michael Schlatter’s stone house, Main street, near where the road turns off for “Wheel Pump,” Chestnut Hill.

At “Carlton” is a magnificent beech (fagus ferruginea) 3 feet in diameter of trunk, with a height of 60 feet and a spread of 40 feet, the finest specimen I know in our territory. We have many fine beeches, one being at “Awbury,” and another at Miss Nixon’s, on East Tulpehocken street. There are also exceedingly fine specimens at George L. Harrison’s, on West School House lane; at William Heft’s, on Main street; at “Fernhill,” and at places elsewhere, too many to name.

By George Redles my attention was directed to a large dogwood (cornus Florida) growing near Queen Lane basin, and there true to life, between the basin and Midvale avenue, may be seen a notable specimen 1½ feet in diameter by 20 feet high, with a spread of 20 feet, and here are two sassafras trees (sassafras officinalis) 2 feet in diameter by 40 feet high, both notable plants, one, however, surpassing the other in form. These are remarkable plants, and stand on historic ground, once part of “Carlton.”

Here the army of Washington was encamped, and here during an encampment of the Civil War Joseph Meehan, botanist and horticulturist, active among us, first did “picket duty.” Here also is a tulip poplar, 4 feet in diameter and 100 feet high, not equal to Wakefield’s notable specimen, but yet a plant of great merit.

We have many superior tulip poplars, one being at “Woodside,” Edward T. Steel’s residence on West School House lane, 4 feet in diameter and 100 feet high; another on John Wagner’s grounds on the same lane being 5 feet in diameter and 60 feet high. There are also several fine tulip poplars at Thomas MacKellar’s, on Shoemaker’s lane, but the finest specimen here, like the Blair linden at Main street and Walnut lane, has been despoiled.

At “Torworth,” the residence of Justus C. Strawbridge, and also at “Blathewood,” Joseph S. Lovering’s place adjoining, we have very fine specimens of hemlock (tsuga canadensis), as indeed we have in many parts of Germantown, but our finest hemlock trees are in the Wissahickon, where almost the entire southern bank of its romantic stream is fringed by this refreshing tree, and wherein are groups or groves above Kitchen’s or Garsed’s lane, above Allen’s lane, at Devil’s Pool, beside Megargee’s dam, and near Rex avenue, plants ranging from 1½ to 2 feet in diameter and from 60 to 80 feet in height. Also near Rex avenue bridge is a specimen hemlock of graceful proportions, having a trunk 2½ feet in diameter and rising to a height of 100 feet.

Among our most interesting plants are the native “Jersey pines,” which appear sparingly about Germantown. With us are two varieties, that on School House lane, opposite Gypsy lane, and others in the same neighborhood extending to the mouth of the Wissahickon, are technically known as pinus inops.

At Walnut lane and Wissahickon avenue is a specimen of pinus rigida one foot in diameter and 30 feet high. At James A. Mason’s, near Upsal Station, is a group of pinus inops. At Thomas’ Mill road on the Wissahickon, and eastward on the same road in the open above Towanda street, are from one to two hundred pinus rigida, interesting survivors of a flora supplanted. On Stenton avenue, near Bethesda Home, we have an isolated group of pinus inops, and at County Line road and Limekiln pike, also on Mt. Airy avenue near Main street are solitary specimens of the same species.

The Wissahickon is covered by numerous valuable plants, but of these a majority is too densely crowded to develop to the best advantage. Several years ago Thomas Meehan in Meehans’ Monthly, asked for data of sassafras trees, the text-books and general information agreeing that the average height of mature specimens of this plant to be 30 feet. At “Solitude” and at the “Indian Mound,” on E. W. Clark’s grounds, School House lane, there are specimens rising to a greater than this height, and at Tulpehocken and Musgrave streets were twin specimens, one now surviving, exceeding this height, and finely formed. Near the “Suicide’s Grave,” north of Rabbit lane, George Redles informed me there is a specially fine specimen. In the Wissahickon, near Thorp’s lane, I measured a slender specimen 80 feet in height, but the finest plants of this species I know were those measured for me by Joseph Heacock, two plants growing near Media, each three feet in diameter and 80 feet high.

About home we have numerous and exceedingly fine specimens of juniper (juniperus virginiana). Almost wherever one goes these may be observed--along the borders of Wissahickon, at “Bummers’ Cave” on Stenton avenue, on Chew street north of Johnson street, a place known to Ellwood Johnson as “Vinegar Hill,” and at Tulpehocken street and Wingohocken creek. This latter tree has a trunk 3 feet in diameter and is 35 feet high. A short time ago it was a healthy, beautiful specimen, but now it is partly or wholly dead, a plant when in its prime approached in my knowledge only by two like it which grow on Sumneytown pike, near “Indian Creek Meeting.” At Roberts Le Boutillier’s on East Washington lane, and elsewhere near, there are many other specimens worthy of record, but space and time details and elaboration forbid.

The deep frost of last winter played havoc with many plants, partly or wholly destroying box, ivy and other evergreens not usually affected. The celebrated evergreen magnolia (magnolia grandiflora) at Lippincott’s, Broad and Sansom streets, Philadelphia, entirely dropped its leaves; in many ponds all the fish were killed, and losses in other directions one may not yet undertake to estimate. Untouched, however, we have many box-bordered garden walks, such as may be seen at “White Cottage,” at “Grumblethorpe,” at “Wyck,” at Spring Bank, at C. M. Bayard’s, on upper Main street; formal designs set in green like those at Robert S. Newhall’s, Main and Gorgas streets; but the most elaborate and most perfect of our box borders are those adorning the garden of George C. Thomas, at Blue Bell Hill, protected by beautiful hedges of osage orange, arbor vitae and neatly clipped hemlock.

I never pass “Spring-bank” without thinking of John Welsh, its late and honored owner. Here I often saw him walking “in the cool of the day” under the shade of the “glorious” trees which line the front of the estate, and, always excepting Wyck, there is not to me in Germantown a more delightful spot. Here we have already noted a few plants, and we shall stop only to look at a perfect tulip poplar, 3 feet in diameter at trunk, with branches rising to 80 feet, a tree vouched for by Martin Constable, the gardener, as “planted by John Welsh himself,” also here is a specimen oak now 20 feet high, the acorn producing which N. Dubois Miller told me was brought from Jerusalem and here grown. In this direction we shall now go no further, but will southward turn, and by way of Main street, which we left at Stenton, proceed to a conclusion. Naglee’s and “Joe Nafle’s” we shall pass, and the Loudoun pines we have already noted.

Since the days of John Hart progress has here forced its way, and many fine plants, including those on the adjoining grounds of James S. Huber, have retreated before its irresistless advance, and the great tree on the hill equipped with a swing, like “Green’s Meadow,” implanted in the memory of every “Smearsburg” girl and boy of the last generation, is gone forever. Toland’s and Wagner’s and Henry’s are holding out “like grim death,” but it is only a question of time when “Wayne Junction” shall overwhelm them.

It is a pity I have often thought that fruit trees are not more often planted for shade, and native sweet-scented flowering plants for bloom, in a measure to bring the best of orchards and woods to home, and thus more directly beauty and utility combine. Our wood plants without exception may be readily grown if removed at a suitable time and properly planted, and I have never had failure in growing laurel (kalmia latifolia), arbutus (epigaea repens), and other of our native plants considered difficult to transplant.

Those of us familiar with Main street and Chelten avenue 25 years ago may remember “Tinker” Frey’s famous swamp magnolia (magnolia glauca). This is no more, but we have now at George Redles’ on Wister street; at Dr. Herman Burgin’s on West Chelten avenue; near Christ’s Church rectory on West Tulpehocken street; fine specimens of this common in New Jersey swamps, but rare in cultivation, plant.

Virginian fringe tree, perfectly hardy, and a very beautiful plant in bloom, although we have several fine specimens, is not common enough in gardens, exceptions not subject to this criticism being conspicuous and notable plants on the grounds of Dillwyn Wistar, Wayne street near Coulter street; Samuel Emlen, Coulter street near Greene street; and Charles M. Bayard, Main street near Carpenter lane. Fringe tree appears spontaneously as far north as the southern counties of New Jersey, and several years ago it was found by Joseph Meehan in the woods near Millville, though before this it had been collected in the same district by Dr. J. B. Brinton. These, with Judas tree (cercis canadensis), elder-berry (sambucus canadensis) and our native dog-woods in variety, are but a few of many worthy native plants, but enough, I hope, to direct attention to the subject.

A creeping yew (taxus adpressa) appears in front of “Conyngham House” or “Hacker House,” Main street, opposite Bringhurst street, but is not equal to the famous plant once at Upsala, yet, however, there is a most beautiful specimen of this rare evergreen in the garden of Edward Hacker on Wister street. On grounds to the rear of Conyngham House are several valuable plants for data of which I am indebted to Miss Howell.

Here was one of “the first wild flower gardens” of later Germantown, containing plants from many parts of the United States, but a garden of which only a trace now remains. Here also is “the finest grove of over-cup oaks (quercus macrocarpa) about, so Thomas Meehan always said,” “and a specimen of strange weeping oak” (quercus pendula).

“Grumblethorpe,” one of our most familiar homes, is now before us, and its plants are second only to its other possessions. Its occupant and owner is Charles J. Wister, to whom credit earned fully given would seem but empty flattery. Here all his long life lived Charles J. Wister the father, a man whom his neighbor, John Jay Smith, pronounced “the greatest botanist living,” and here amidst the sanctity of its associations lives the son, a most worthy successor. Quoting from an article written several years ago by William E. Meehan, which is sufficiently full for our purpose, there is growing at “Grumblethorpe” “a number of interesting trees, among them three old pear trees, two late Catherine and one sugar pear. There are records to show that these trees are about 150 years old. The sugar pear, which still bears abundantly, is 50 or 60 feet high, and has a girth of six feet. An aged ivy has completely overgrown the trunk and has climbed almost to the topmost branches. A very fine specimen of the famous larch of the Alps, familiar to every student of Swiss Alpine scenery, is also growing on these grounds. This tree, knotted and gnarled with age, has a trunk 5½ feet in circumference, and the tree is probably the finest of its kind around the city.”

A Japanese Ginko tree, which was among the first importations, is also among the curiosities of the Wister place, and, it may be well to add, this is the first recorded ginko in America to fruit. “About 1830 Charles J. Wister planted one of the first ailanthus (ailanthus glandulosus) brought from China. This is one of the most rapid growers of any known tree, and has attained a height of over 70 feet, and has a girth of 12 feet 2 inches.”

Here also is a rare specimen of papaw (asimina triloba), a tree equaled only by one of the same kind at “Wyck,” one foot in diameter by 40 feet high. “A gray poplar (populus alba), introduced about the latter part of the last century from Italy, is also growing in Mr. Wister’s grounds. Its trunk measures 10 feet 4 inches, and its branches cover a great area of ground.”

When we remember that the old fruit trees of “Grumblethorpe” have lived through the busiest life of our town, and yet bear as they did at a time when Christopher Saur in a building close by printed pamphlets and books now highly prized, we may well halt for a moment of reverential meditation, not for the trees and their produce, but for the power which gave them life, which sustained them, and which has given them to us. Interesting trees the garden of “Grumblethorpe” suggest, are the Chancellor pear, which originated on the grounds of William Chancellor, School House lane, adjoining Germantown Academy, and the original Keiffer pear, produced by Peter Keiffer at his nursery on Livezey’s lane, west of Wissahickon creek.

While in the vicinity of Germantown Academy, let us notice there a beautiful specimen of blood-leaved maple (acer J. atropurpureum), and also one of equal worth on the grounds of Miss Jane E. Hart, diagonally opposite.

These plants are very fine though small,--but superior specimens may be noted at Dr. James Darrach’s, Greene street, near Harvey street,--and at Mrs. Thomas W. Evans’, Cliveden avenue and Main street, the latter our representative plant.

Thanks to Meehans’ nurseries, we have many fine specimens of this showy tree about Germantown, and among a number known to us one of the best is on the grounds of William Rotch Wister, Wisteria avenue. Also in the garden of Samuel Emlen, West Coulter street, among other rare plants is the most beautiful specimen of cut-leaved maple (acer J. dissectum a.) I have ever seen.

Passing the residence and one-time garden of the “annalist” John Fanning Watson, we now turn in Penn street to visit “Ivy Lodge,” the home of John Jay Smith, whose long, useful life was here lived, where much of his best work was done, and from whence he departed to the habitations of the “just made perfect.” “Ivy Lodge” is of interest in many ways, but we shall stop only to mention a sun-dial with a noted inscription associated with Stenton, and one of two original “constable boxes” which once did service for the “borough,” the other box being preserved at Manheim,--and present a few plants. Both dial and box are conspicuous objects in the garden, and surrounding them are some of the rarest shrubs and trees in our midst. Far more than I am here able to give, credit is due Miss Elizabeth P. Smith, a daughter of John J. Smith. At “Ivy Lodge” is a specially fine specimen of weeping beech (fagus H. var. pendula), a memorial red oak (quercus rubra) planted by Miss Smith’s mother, and an immense black oak (quercus nigra). Also here once grew a notable juniper (juniperus squarrata), and several specimens of araucaria.

Miss Smith told me her father many times here tried to raise araucarias (araucaria imbricata) in the open, but never succeeded in keeping them over three years, this much being “considered quite an achievement.” In England araucarias of great height are quite common, so I doubt not the length and severity of our winters is responsible for the plant’s non-existence in our gardens. At “Ivy Lodge” are several fine mahonias (mahonia aquifolium) of 35 years’ growth, and with the exception of a small specimen growing on the grounds of Edward Hacker, on Wister street, here is the only cedar of Lebanon (cedrus libani) to my knowledge growing strictly within the town limits. This is a fine plant about 25 feet in height, and is one of two memorial trees planted in 1852 by John Jay Smith and John Granville Penn, the latter the last of the “proprietor’s” line, in honor of William Penn and James Logan. The “William Penn” tree, planted by a descendant of James Logan, is the plant we may see. The James Logan tree planted by a descendant of William Penn, is no more, having gone the way of “all the earth.”

Until a few years ago there was on the grounds of Colonel Galloway C. Morris, on East Tulpehocken street, a very fine cedar of Lebanon, but this to make room for improvements was destroyed. A “cut” of this plant, however, survives, and with a description may be seen in Vol. I, page 39, of Meehans’ Monthly. Our best and most notable cedars of Lebanon stand in North Laurel Hill Cemetery, and these grown under the care of John Jay Smith are said not to be excelled in America.

I wonder how many who pass up and down Main street, or who visit the Friends’ Library, notice the trees at “Friends’ Meeting.” To me these are always a delight, and I love to look back into the spacious, restful grounds, for here and wherever these “meetings” are is a picture of peace. We all are apt to know more about “green hills” far away than of those immediately before us, for the things at hand often appear ordinary, while those heard of or seen under unusual conditions are rated by an exalted measure.

Walking in the Wissahickon upon two occasions with men of travel, I asked, “Did you ever see a more beautiful place?” One answered, “It is very much like the scenery of New Zealand, but it is better.” Another said, “I have traveled throughout Europe, and the only place that will compare at all with it is the Trossachs in Scotland, but in extent it is insignificant compared to this.” Henry Carvill Lewis, who “circled the globe” before attaining his “majority,” told me in all his travels he saw nothing that in his estimation approached the beauty of the Wissahickon, and others who have traveled far and who lived long abroad have told me “the Wissahickon is incomparable.”

So we may know much about “Bartram’s cypress,” a plant 9 feet in diameter and 120 feet high, while we may not have noticed the beautiful cypress at “Fairfield;” the specimen at David Peltz’s, on Nicetown lane; the exceedingly fine specimen 2 feet in diameter and 80 feet high at James E. Caldwell’s, on Manheim street; specimens at Henry’s, Main street, opposite Fisher’s lane; at David Hinkle’s, on Main street, near Penn street; at “Ivy Lodge;” at Vernon; at Town Hall Square; at several points on West Walnut lane, at Pomona; and the group of three very fine cypress trees we passed at Friends’ grounds.

There are many other fine cypress trees with us, but our most noted ones are on Main street, above Washington lane, where at Ellwood Johnson’s is a group of three trees of unusual height, and one solitary plant 5 feet in diameter by 100 feet high, conspicuous by its size. These plants grow upon “Honey Run,” on ground once owned by Peter Keyser, whose son of the same name, a “preacher” and tanner, brought them from South Carolina, and under his direction about the year 1800 were here planted by Israel Haupt, so Miss Elizabeth R. and Ellwood Johnson informed me.

At the Deshler-Morris home, owned and occupied by Elliston P. Morris, is one of our finest gardens, possessing several of our largest and finest trees. Mr. Morris wrote me:

“The exact age of some of my fine old trees is uncertain, the family tradition is that some of them were planted by my grandfather, or members of his family. I doubt not some of the older trees were there when it was President George Washington’s residence during the yellow fever epidemic of 1793. The great storm two years ago with its wind and sleet sadly spoiled my most attractive trees, and in some cases left me but skeletons of their former beauty, notably a 70-year-old elm tree planted by my father, Samuel B. Morris, which stands in the middle of my grounds.”

Those who view the garden of Mr. Morris wonder at its freshness, and proceeding with its owner:

“The great secret of my lawn is the unbroken expanse of grass, and the planting in conformity with established rules of landscape gardening. I have still some choice specimen trees, notable an immense English horse-chestnut (aesculus hippocastanum), with a girth I should think of some 10 feet; a hybrid English walnut (juglans regia) and butternut (juglans cinerea) very unusual, about 70 feet high and a girth of say 8 feet; a pretty specimen of the lovely cut-leaved beech (fagus S. heterophylla); a 70-year-old magnolia glauca, a fine box tree (boxus arborescens), and some 100-year-old box-bushes (boxus sempervirens), and a good variety of shrubbery, with its ever changing bloom.”

With us are many exceptional gardens, and these, with the beautiful garden of Mr. Morris, I trust may be presented at another time.

We have also many rare “wild garden plants,” and such native rare and notable plants as Goldie’s spleen-wort, climbing fern, walking fern, Nuttall’s spleen-wort, Scott’s spleen-wort, Wister’s coral plant, obolaria, Adam and Eve plant, cancer root, and others exceedingly scarce and valuable, which we may only in this way refer to.

On Main street, opposite Armat street, in a house occupied by Edward Manley, a one time preceptor of mine, once lived Christian Lehman, scribener, surveyor, notary public and nurseryman, and here in the old “nursery” is an English walnut to remind us of the first local importer of this valuable tree. The present specimen belongs to a later period, but is doubtless a product of an original planting of surrounding grounds. From a much used advertisement of the Pennsylvania Gazette of April 12, 1768, we learn that there was “to be sold--a choice parcel of well grown young English walnut, as well as pear and apricot, and a curious variety of the best and largest sorts from England of grafted plumb trees fit for transplanting this spring or next fall, as well as a great variety of beautiful double hyacinth roots and tulip roots, next summer season, and most other things in the flower or fruit nursery way, by Christian Lehman.”

“Vernon,” although its native charms vanished with its open stream, meadow, spring-house and protecting shrubbery, yet preserves much to hold and interest us. The ground now covered by Vernon include the estate of Melchior Meng and part of that of Henry Kurtz, both plant lovers possessing fine gardens, which were enriched by cultivations of Matthias Kin, a celebrated plant collector.

Here is the locally known “Meng’s magnolia” (magnolia macrophylla) procured by Kin, the first magnolia of its kind cultivated in North America, and here are oak and hemlock trees planted by John Wister in the early part of the last century. Several noted trees once here have gone. One was an immense buttonwood with a trunk having a diameter of 5 feet; another was a weeping willow (salix babylonica) located near the spring-house, and others were a large horse-chestnut which shaded the front of Kurtz house, and a large linden (tilia Americana) once prominent on the street before the door of Melchior Meng. Many doubtless may recall Meng’s house as “Oliver Jester’s tin shop,” until a few years ago standing on Vernon’s southern front.

Old gardens, and the grapes of which Pastorius wrote have gone, but we have in new Germantown, gardens superior to any of olden time, and I warrant the 8-inch diameter grape vine-trunks of middle Wissahickon are equal to any the “founder” ever saw. So, too, the two gardens of Dr. Christopher Witt are no more, and there is nothing surviving to suggest them.

On the Geissler-Warner tract, part of which was also once occupied by Dr. Witt, whereon also he had his first garden, stands St. Michael’s P. E. Church, and on its rear chancel wall is an ivy recently re-planted by E. A. Frey. This plant, carefully transferred from a former position, is a hardy “English ivy” brought originally from Sir Walter Scott’s “Abbotsford” by Dorsey Cox, and was here planted under the direction of the late beloved rector, Dr. John K. Murphy.

At this place also grew a white mulberry tree (morus alba) of local celebrity, one of many which sprang up in this neighborhood, the parent tree being at the “cocoonery,” Hermann and Morton streets. Although Dr. Philip Syng Physick, nor his son Philip--who was never a doctor--had any direct connection with this tree, it is justly prized, and I am pleased that in the form of a “Canterbury chair,” made by George Redles, it now occupies a prominent position in the chancel of the church, for beyond these associations, it was grown in the Warner burying ground, where was laid the remains of the Warners, Daniel Geissler, Dr. Christopher Witt, and perhaps John Kelpius, all Mystics and early botanists, and we have before us a memorial sanctified by the blood it contains.

Though the Warner ground mulberry was a foundling, we have on the original “multicaulis” grounds where Philip Physick lived a solitary specimen of mulberry of unusual size, 3 feet in diameter by 40 feet high, now in bloom, to remind us of a “South Sea bubble” burst, which troubled the investors of a generation past.

Among the noted trees of Germantown was a pecan once standing on the grounds of Dr. William R. Dunton, and which was removed after the erection of the First Methodist Church. This tree was grown from one of several nuts which Thomas Nuttall brought from Arkansas and presented to his friend, Reuben Haines, a prominent officer of the Philadelphia Academy of Natural Sciences, and at whose home in Germantown he was a frequent guest. The nut which produced Doctor Dunton’s tree was given by Reuben Haines to his neighbor, Daniel Pastorius, and two nuts were planted in his own garden, all developed to plants of maturity, but the trees at “Wyck” died, while the Pastorius tree reached large proportions, bore fruit, and it is to be regretted that a specimen of so much interest could not have been preserved.

In many respects a pecan (carya olivaeformis) resembles a hickory (carya tomentosa), a tree whose name occupies an important place in the early records of Germantown. From our Township line boundaries the ancient “hicories” have disappeared, and I shall refer only to a notable one which stood on Baynton street, west of Church lane, a tree Thomas MacKellar described as “the finest hickory” he ever saw.

“Wyck” throughout the history of Germantown has been conspicuous, and I regret that present bounds will not permit us to enlarge upon it. To this attractive spot came the most noted naturalists of the last century, and following in the path of generous culture came Lafayette, who in the year 1825 was given here a public reception, which is distinctly remembered by Robert Thomas and Joseph Murter, honored citizens already referred to, who attended it. At “Wyck” is growing a Spanish chestnut (castanea vesca) raised from a tree whose parent nut was planted by Washington at Belmont for Judge Richard Peters. Also here is a white walnut (juglans cinerea) grown from a tree planted by Lafayette at Belmont, upon his “farewell visit” to America. Many of us may remember it was an immense tree standing on “Wyck” ground, and afterwards in the centre of the street almost opposite “The Barn,” which gave to Walnut lane its name. This walnut for many years was permitted to keep its place, but in due time became a prey to expediency.

Likewise it was a noted oak which gave name to a familiar “east-side” lane, and the circumstances attending, were almost identical with those serving the Walnut lane dedication.

Among plants rare, though not rare plants, are several which have always puzzled me that they are not more general in cultivation. One of these is tamarisk (tamarix gallica), a shrub or small tree common enough in other parts, but with us scarce. The finest specimen of this plant we have is one 8 inches in diameter, rising with a bushy head to a height of 16 feet, and growing in the garden of Mrs. Frank Cooley, 106 Hermann street. Ordinarily tamarisk is of a thin, straggling habit, but responding to care and liberal pruning this plant shows a remarkably heavy, vigorous growth, as a cut, page 173 of volume 12, Meehans’ Monthly, fairly illustrates.

On our way northward, let us as we pass Charles Megargee’s mansion, now the home of a popular club, recall a rare oriental spruce recorded by William E. Meehan. Impersonality in writing is often its greatest strength, but the credit for a large amount of city history presented by Mr. Meehan I should like to see justly given, for much that has appeared and repeatedly reappeared belongs to him. The oriental spruce (picea orientalis) once here was considered a remarkably fine one, and belonged to the “most northern growing of all the pine tree family.” This specimen was brought to Philadelphia “by Engineer George W. Melville on his return from the famous De Long expedition,” the specimen being secured “on an island near the mouth of the Lena river.”

Among our scarce plants is persimmon (diospyros Virginiana), though why this should be I do not know, for outside our territory, and especially in the neighborhood of the Perkiomen Valley, it is one of the most common of trees. At Stenton; on Abbotsford avenue near James A. Wright’s place; in the Wissahickon, near “Livezey’s Mills;” near Rabbit lane and County line, we have meritorious if not great persimmons; and at Miss Hocker’s, Main street above Washington lane; also at Joseph C. Channon’s, Main street, above Pastorius street, we have at each place two specimens, noteworthy because being directly upon our main highway they serve to remind us of farm days and the simple character of our one-time village. Here, too, at “Channon’s,” under the care of Miss Amelia R. Wood, is a lusty Japanese persimmon (diospyros kaki) which never fails to fruit. Also here, as well as at Miss Elizabeth R. Johnson’s near-by, are quince, pear and apple orchards, survivors of ancient days, blossoming as of old.

Townsend Ward, with others before him, and followed by Judge Samuel W. Pennypacker, have given accounts of a great but almost unknown man who had the confidence to address Cromwell upon his plans, a religious writer of wide influence, the founder of a successful community, which existed nearly 200 years before that of the more widely known Brook Farm of New England. This man was Peter Cornelius Plockhoy, and his colony was located on the Delaware river, where the town of Lewes now is. Ward records: “In 1694 there came to Germantown an old man and his wife. He was blind and poor, and his name was Cornelius Plockhoy, the founder and last survivor of the Mennonite colony broken up 30 years before at the Hoorn Kill by Sir Robert Carr. The good people of Germantown took pity on him;” and continuing with Judge Pennypacker, “they gave him the citizenship free of charge.” They set apart for him at the end street of the village by Peter Klever’s corner a lot 12 rods long and one rod broad whereon to build a little house and make a garden; in front of it they planted a tree. Jan Doeden and William Rittenhouse were appointed to take up “a free will offering” and to have the house built.

I refer to this because Plockhoy, more than he is, should be identified with Germantown, because a tree in this early life of the colony was considered of sufficient importance to name, and also because this house and tree stood upon Kyser’s lane within sight of the homestead owned and occupied by Miss Elizabeth R. Johnson, in whose charming garden situated at the northwest corner of Main street and Washington lane, we shall stop for awhile to “sit at her feet” while she entertains us with accounts of her historic plants. Among the rare treasures here is a fine Persian lilac (syringa persica) planted in 1771, which continues vigorous and spreads its sweetness upon the receptive air. A curious fig (ficus carica) here is the development of a shoot which for 4 years after the removal of the parent tree did not appear, but is now, as figs go, a stately plant. Here also on the southern exposure of the mansion is the first wisteria (wisteria speciosa) planted in Germantown, and one of the first planted in America, a plant of immense proportions, and whose numerous runners overspreading two near-by trees weighted them to earth.

Many fine wisteria plants we have, and at Ellwood Johnson’s fascinating retreat adjoining there is a most beautiful specimen; another is at “Grumblethorpe;” another at William Rotch Wister’s on Wisteria avenue, and yet another at Dr. Herman Burgin’s on West Chelten avenue; also at David McMahon’s on East Chelten avenue are two handsome wisterias grown as standards. All these are notable plants, and conspicuous among an innumerable company which help beautify our town.

At the Johnson homestead are several fine box trees planted in the year 1800, and these bring to mind other superior box trees; plants on Hermann street, near Baynton street; at Hacker house, on Main street; at Vernon, and at many other points in our territory.

At Ellwood Johnson’s we shall halt for a moment to partake of his sparkling spring water, and note a pear tree of Revolutionary days which yet spreads its branches over a charming spring-house. Here until the storm which overthrew Christ Church steeple, stood an old willow (salix babylonica) with a trunk 5½ feet in diameter, and one of the first weeping willow trees planted in America, a notable specimen which outliving its strength was felled by the great wind of the storm referred to, but now a scion from its roots has risen to preserve its memory.

Also here among many notable plants is a fine specimen of the rare clammy locust (robinia viscosa), and the largest hazelnut (corylus Americana) I have ever seen, a plant of 20 feet in height, and covering a large area.

Passing Concord School, its nature-loving pupils, George Lippard and William E. Meehan, with other associations of interest to plant students, we halt at “Pomona Grove” to present a plant which should not be forgotten, for “Pomona” and its charms are now a memory. At the northeast corner of what is now Baynton street and Pomona terrace once stood a yew, which by those competent to judge was considered remarkable. No one has been able to definitely state where this tree came from, nor when it was planted. All agree that it was a mature imported plant and was placed at “Pomona” by Col. Thomas Forrest. There need be no mystery, however, for it is well known a yew grows rapidly for 20 or more years, more slowly for a hundred years, after which period it exists in a practically stationary condition.

Prof. Thomas Meehan pronounced the Pomona yew the finest he had ever seen, and his ripe knowledge and wide travels gave a distinct value to the opinion. This plant was in perfect condition, covered a circle of 13 feet diameter, and stood at a height of 20 feet.

“Alas, that vandal hands should tear away
The ancient landmarks dear to other days,
And spoil the verdurous temples in a day,
Which nature took so many years to raise!”

It is to be forever regretted that the efforts of our Germantown Horticultural Society to secure this gem for Market Square failed, for it rather than objectionable intrusions now there, would better serve the purposes for which the block was set apart.

We have, however, near Market Square in the garden of Elliston P. Morris, a small, but perfect and very beautiful specimen of English yew, identical in variety with the plant so unfortunately lost.

Continuing--we pass Miss Arrott’s select school, which was once a barn, and Leonard Stoneburner’s house and farm, he an active citizen, whose pride lay rather in the speed of his horses than in “crops” and trade and politics, all of which claimed a large share of his attention; also passing Naaman K. Ployd’s garden, and his numerous plants of more than local interest--we soon reach “Cliveden,” first occupied as a country seat by Chief Justice Chew in the year 1763. This is the battleground’s centre, and is sacred because of the men who died there; but while appreciating this, let us work and pray for a time when war shall be considered a crime, and the taking of human life for any cause, murder. At “Cliveden” there are now no plants of the Revolutionary period, and many of its finest shrubs have been planted within my memory.

“Growing close against the Chew mansion a beautiful rose of Japan. It is certainly at least 75 years old, and has delighted all who have seen it by the quality and beauty of its large red blossoms,” so noted William E. Meehan. Mrs. Chew wrote me: “There were a number of magnificent English elms, a row along the front of the place near the street, extending as far as Upsal street, and another row along Cliveden street.”

Near the barn there is at present an elm (ulmus campestris), a sole representative of the trees indicated. The street “trees were killed by wanton boys when the family temporarily left the place about 40 years ago,” and by the fathers I doubt not of the “Dog-towners,” who stoned every Rittenhouse School boy of my own class reckless enough to venture alone into the reserved precincts of “Beggarstown.” Here is a beautiful specimen of European larch (larix Europaea), and to continue with Mrs. Chew, “the tulip poplars on the west side of the house were planted by Blair McClanachan during the few years after the battle that he owned the property. The oak on the lawn in front of the house was planted about 70 years ago by one of the family.”

The pine tree (pinus rigida) on the front lawn “may be accounted for in the following way, I think, although I do not positively know. Mr. Chew, the son of the Chief Justice, owned a number of very fine farms in New Jersey, and his tenants there were of the same family for generations, and they were on the most kind and friendly terms with Mr. Chew. I imagine that this tree when very small may have been brought as a gift to Mr. Chew by one of his tenants, and there planted by Mr. Chew himself.”

Surviving on Upsal street is a companion pine, which from its position gives strength to this opinion, for these trees appear to have been twins planted in “Cliveden” equi-distant.

“Upsala,” opposite, which we all know well by name, possesses several of our finest and most notable plants. Miss Sally W. Johnson, who owns and occupies it, generously gave me an account of its rare home plants, which we may now only present in outline. Among these plants were grapes planted and cared for by Dr. Johnson, a very large white flowering camellia, a white flowering sweet jasmine, a laurestinas, a daphne, not equal to the one which Miss Ann Chew had in her hall by the front window. Of her garden, Miss Johnson’s account is so interesting that I cannot deny myself the pleasure of quoting. In it “there were in summer Bordeaux lilies, and varlotta purpurea, a handsome red clustered lily, and agapanthus with their odd shade of lavender blue; funkias, vincas, oriental poppies in garden beds, and the ‘York and Lancaster’ rose still blooms, though it is a curious dwarf. The Marie Louise, a sweet light pink rose, has lived on all through the garden for I am sure the past hundred years. I try to replace the trees or plants that have died. There was once a double row of white Hawthorn to the Johnson street entrance. The red berries were so bright, and made a charming English decoration for Christmas. A double pink hawthorne was a very fine tree.”

“The fringe tree was an old favorite, arching gracefully over the middle walk, and when gone was replaced by another, and a group of tartarian honeysuckle is still blooming every spring after the daffodils and cowslips and double low buttercups with their mottled shiny leaves, periwinkles and lilies of the valley were in every shady spot, and the late summer was gorgeous with phlox--the hardy--and Drummondii, larkspurs, tritoma, trumpet vine, and the like.”

Though many of “Upsala’s” best trees are no more, here yet are several of which we may be justly proud. The once well-known creeping yew is gone, and the silver fir planted in 1800, which reached 100 feet in height, a plant figured and described in A. J. Downing’s “Landscape Gardening,” was removed several years ago, and a memorial apolinian fir was planted in its place.

Here is a famous American yew, a plant distinct from English yew; a noted catalpa, a dwarf spruce, a handsome tulip-poplar, a number of towering white pines, an exceedingly fine cryptomeria or Japan cedar, which greatly excels specimens at “Fairfield,” at Edward Hacker’s on Wister street, at Peter Keiffer’s on Livezey’s lane; and here is a California redwood or “big-tree” (sequoia gigantea), a plant now about 25 feet in height, the rarest, and so far as known to me, the only specimen of a size worthy of consideration in Philadelphia. This tree, now showing the effects of last winter’s unusual frost, stands directly in front of the mansion, and my prayer is that “Upsala” unaltered, and its owner in health and “perpetual youth,” may continue until it attains the proportions of its most illustrious progenitors.

Time presses upon us, so we shall pass rapidly Billmyer house, where are beautiful specimens of locust (robinia pseudacacia), walnut and honey-locust (gleditschia triacanthos); Peter Leibert house, where are fair Norway spruce, horse-chestnut and silver maple; the Church of the Brethren grounds, where grow four of our finest trees, two larch trees, each 2 feet in diameter and 60 feet high, and two coffee trees of magnificent development, plants 2 feet in diameter by 80 feet high each; several striking plants of merit at Peter D. Hinkle’s; St. Michael’s Lutheran Church grounds, where is a superb specimen of Irish yew (taxus, var. Hibernica), resembling, but in beauty far exceeding, similar plants at St. Vincent de Paul’s Church, and Lower Burying Ground; Phil-Ellena, the one-time residence of George W. Carpenter, whose garden of home gardens, if not the greatest, was at least the one most widely known, but its rare plants are now distributed and its notable trees in the main leveled to accommodate “Pelham,” a late product of capital and change.

At George Hesser or William M. Bayard house, opposite, is a number of fine box-bordered walks, an impressive linden resembling the linden in Concord Burying Ground, and a picturesque white pine, but these without further mention we shall neglect to stop briefly at Joseph Meehan’s, on Pleasant street, and at Meehans’ nursery on Main street, the latter once located at the southeast corner of Meehan avenue, where numerous plants now beautifying home streets and gardens were first grown.

Among Joseph Meehan’s “wild plants” is a handsome aster, discovered by this botanist near Gettysburg, Pa., a plant which for several years has been growing in his garden. As yet the “authorities” have not decided upon a name, so we shall present it as aster Meehani.

Here also is a specimen of the rare Franklin tree (gordonia pubescens), and with the exception of a like specimen at Meehans’ nurseries, and another near Horticultural Hall, also one raised by William De Hart and now growing near Lansdowne, it is the finest specimen I know.

In our “Flora,” I have referred to the parent of this tree, which was a scion of the plant brought from South Carolina by William Bartram. The original plant, abused at Bartram Garden after the retirement of Colonel Carr, was rescued and revived by William De Hart at his garden on Darby road, where it grew for several years. It was then presented to Joseph Meehan, on whose grounds, its energy spent, it struggled through a precarious existence to an honored death--truly an interesting record of the most remarkable plant in botanical nomenclature.

From Main street nursery Thomas Meehan removed to “Hongs’ Farm,” on Chew street. His partner, William Saunders, located first on Johnson street, near Greene street, and later took charge of the experimental gardens at Washington. At the Chew street nurseries are many of the choicest and most notable plants in America, specimens from which plates of the “Flowers and Ferns of the United States” were figured; indeed so many “new and rare plants” that I shall leave them, trusting that Joseph Meehan may favor us with a paper upon the same, and at present we shall be content with reference to a few valuable ones I think him likely to ignore--namely, cut-leaved plum (prunus myrobolana, var. dissectum); halesia Meehani or silver-bell, a species of shrub or small tree bearing beautiful white bell-shaped flowers; weeping dog-wood (cornus F., var. pendula), and rose-flowering dog-wood (cornus F., var. flore rubro), all distinct varieties originating at these widely known and justly famed nurseries.

I had thought to completely cover our territory, but within the “time limit” this I have found impossible. There are many “estates” of merit with us to which I have not referred, and on them and elsewhere near are many deserving plants and odd growths I should like to introduce and enlarge upon, such as a cherry (prunus serotina) of immense proportions, situated on Fisher’s lane, near Lower Burying Ground; a very fine silver-bell tree on the grounds of George W. Russell, Seymour street near Morris street; two beautiful elms on Spencer’s Farm, and standing near the site of “Roberts’ mill” on Church lane, near Township Line road; the Henry Lenhart memorial stone in Market Square Church grounds, which since the year 1830 has been enveloped by the root growth of a silver maple, and in its vise-like grip is supported vertically; several commemorative trees, emblems of affection, such as the purple beech and white pine trees planted on Greene street near Coulter street by “Dr. Rivinis, a grandson of the botanist for whom Rivinia or rouge plant” was named; and the “Mollie Middleton,” “Helen T. Longstreth” and numerous other marked trees in the Wissahickon; an exceedingly fine American aspen on the grounds of Dr. Daniel Karsner, Tulpehocken and Greene streets; a group of large pine trees at Adams street and Washington lane; the wild goose lily treasured by Ellwood Johnson, a unique plant resembling, but quite distinct from Hemerocallis Flava of our gardens; a valuable and perfectly formed Norway maple, situated on Chew street, near Washington lane, a tree which always leads its kind in leaf and flower; an immense hawthorn (crataegus oxyacantha) on Magnolia street, near Johnson street; individual paulownia (paulownia imperialis), catalpa (catalpa bignonioides), and smoke trees (rhus cotinus) of merit, conspicuous in many places throughout our domain; a celebrated Irish yew once standing beside the Carpenter Mansion at Phil-Ellena; a white oak of remarkable growth showing a trunk 5 feet in diameter, a height of 60 feet, and having an immense limb tapering from 2 feet in diameter, 32 feet long, projecting horizontally for its entire length, and completely spanning Rabbit lane, east of E. Rittenhouse Miller’s place; a magnolia, the product of skill if not art, flourishing on James E. Gowen’s grounds at Main street and Gowen avenue, a monstrosity formed by the union of a circle of plants drawn together at about 3 feet above the earth and united, rising in a central trunk, reminding one of Alexander Pope and his strange fancies at Twickenham; a curious seat at “The Cherries” at Spring-bank, naturally supported by the outgrowth of two oak trees,--and near the same spot, a storm-cleft chestnut tree, which strangely has renewed itself; many rare and beautiful magnolias, such as may be seen at Mrs. Taws’, West Tulpehocken street, at Thomas Meehan’s, at “Wyck,” at William Heft’s, and in general distribution throughout our territory; “cut-leaved” plants in variety, such as may be seen on Baynton street, near Walnut lane, at Chelten avenue and Godfrey street, and at many places elsewhere; Kilmarnock willows and “weeping plants” innumerable; rare plants at Miller & Yates’; the celebrated “paragon chestnut” of William L. Schaeffer, a variety of Spanish chestnut (castanea vesca) which originated on what is now the Institution for the Deaf and Dumb grounds, and obtained wide celebrity; fern-leaved beech (fagus, var. asplenifolia) at Edward S. Buckley’s, and weeping beech (fagus, var. pendula) at C. B. Dunn’s, with another noted one at Thomas C. Price’s, all of Chestnut Hill; Caleb Cope’s garden “grotto” and valuable plants; the “new garden” of John T. Morris on Wissahickon, a botanical garden in every respect save name; and many unique plants stationed throughout the length and breadth of the Wissahickon region.

But among our superabundance it has been possible only to mark a few guide posts to point the way to all who care “to lead or follow” to a possession which in other parts is suggested only by such rich old settlements as Alexandria, West Chester and some New England towns, but not any of which, so far as I have been able to observe, is able to approach the treasure ever present with us. Much that we desire to present we thus are obliged to curtail or ignore, and with one more thought we shall conclude.

When visitors of distinction called upon George W. Childs at “Wootten,” they invariably were requested to plant a tree. The custom is a pleasing one, worthy of imitation, and should be encouraged. Wrote Thomas Meehan: “trees are associated with our dearest memories and most important events.” Abroad memorial and historic trees are so numerous that we refer to them only for illumination, and in our own country we have the “Charter Oak” of Connecticut, the famous “Elm of Cambridge,” and the “Treaty Tree” of Philadelphia. Other trees quite as important, but not so well known, are the “Liberty Tree” of Newport, the mulberry tree of Maryland under which the first settlers met to establish a government, and the plane tree of Burlington, to which New Jersey colonists tied ship before the founding of Philadelphia.

Stop soon we must, and passing many home plants of tender associations, I shall select one, and close with mention of a memorial tree near Kitchen’s bridge in the Wissahickon, a pin oak (quercus palustris), planted “Arbor Day, 1903, by the pupils of Andrew G. Curtin Public School in memory of Thomas Meehan, the friend of boys and girls.” No truer words than these were ever penned, but let us not limit, for Thomas Meehan was a friend to all--the world is better because he lived, and there is no one in Germantown this day who does not enjoy the fruit of his great work.

So we pass, and although our list of plants is indicative only, and those named but meagrely “presented,” yet we trust enough has been noted to direct attention to the beautiful creations placed before us to enjoy. We have no need to covet or compare, for in a magnificent fullness we have what others have not, and while we envy not nor desire another less, let us for ourselves strive to deserve the favors so bountifully given us, and take lesson, for false accumulations are vanity, so let us spurning the selfishness of the few who ignore the rights of the many, find pleasure in pursuits which no abuse is able to restrict nor monopoly to control, for when schemers and their usurpations are no more, nature incorruptible and unalterable will continue steadfast on her way.