A statement of facts relative to the establishment and progress of the Elgin Botanic Garden, and the subsequent disposal of the same to the State of New-York / [David Hosack].

  • Hosack, David, 1769-1835.
Date:
1811
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A statement of facts relative to the establishment and progress of the Elgin Botanic Garden, and the subsequent disposal of the same to the State of New-York / [David Hosack]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    and this city might yet have the honour of the first appointment of that kind in Americ^.”* Upon the revival of the medical school in Columbia College, in the year 1792, the board of trustees, aided by the legislature of the state, made provision for the endowment of additional professorships in that institution. A distinct professorship of botam was also at that time established, and lectures on this branch of science were delivered by Dr. Samuel L. Mitchill, who was chosen to that station. But though the aid of the legislature was thus far bestowed in behalf of the advancement of the medical school, it appears, that they conceived still more was wanting to give efficacy to their labours, and to the organi¬ zation of a complete medical establishment. The public solicitude on this occasion appears in the following abstract from a report made by the Agricultural Society of the state, (of which associ¬ ation the members of the legislature formed a part) and publish¬ ed in their transactions, part 2d, 1794. “ The establishment of a garden is nearly connected with the professorship of botany under the college, and the lectures on that branch must be always very lame and defective without one. Nothing but a more full conviction of its importance and utility is wanting to set on foot such an institution, and to carry it into effect A botanical garden is not only one of the most useful and most important of public improvements, but it also comprises within a small compass the history of the vegetable species of our own country ; and by the introduction of exotics, makes us acquainted with the plants of the most distant parts of the earth. Likewise, by facilitating experiments upon plants at this time, when a true theory of nutrition and manures is such an interesting desideratum, a botanic garden may be considered as one of the means of affording substantial help to the labours of the Agricultural Society, and be conducive to the improvement of modern husbandry When these things are duly considered, it can scarcely be doubted, that a botanic garden, under the direction of the society, or of the college, wuth a view to further the agricultural interest, will be set on foot and supported by legislative provision: to the end that young minds be early imbued with proper ideas on this im¬ portant subjectf’-J- In the month of May, 1795, Dr. Mitchill having resigned his botanical professorship, I was appointed his successor; and in the following year, upon the death of the late Dr. William P. Smith, professor of the materia medica, I was elected to the joint pro¬ fessorship of botany* and materia medica. I now readily perceived that an abstract account of the princi¬ ples of these sciences, as taught by books, coloured engravings, or even with the advantages of an herbarium, must necessarily be * Medical Discourse, 8vo. p. 58, t Transactions of the Society instituted in the state of New-York, for the promotion of Agri¬ culture. 4to, p. xiv»