Somewhat perplexing and embarrassing circumstances have arisen in the development of the Biltmore Arboretum, upon which it is advisable that we should confer together and come to some decision as soon as may be. In order that you may think the matter over and be thoroughly prepared to discuss it when I return to Brookline, I will write out a statement of the case as it now presents itself. The simplest way will be to recall the principal steps that have been taken in connection with the Arboretum up to the present.

A general scheme was outlined in our letter to Mr. Vanderbilt dated December 30th, 1895. The scheme may be summed up as follows:

A circuit line of road with branches is needed in the southerly part of the Estate both as a main forest road and as a pleasure road. It will add but little to the cost of planting and preparing this road to make it the best arboretum in the world. The Arboretum is proposed to be planned more particularly as a field for the study of trees and shrubs for extensive planting with a view to landscape improvement or to the commercial profits of forestry in distinction from the planting of orchards, gardens, etc. It is proposed that trees and shrubs be planted along the road, species following species approximately in the natural order; but this order may be departed from where better conditions of growth or better landscape effect can thus be secured. Not less than four trees of each species are to be planted and two are to be left ultimately with room to extend on at least two sides to their full spread unimpeded by other trees. At a suitable distance behind these, others are to be planted to show the character of the same [925]species grown in groups. Back of these again, chiefly on existing clearings, plots of about an acre each are to be planted with the more valuable forest trees growing in forest conditions. In addition to the species, specimens of some varieties are to be exhibited, in general such as by their special qualities affect the character of a passage of scenery for a considerable period and not, for example, merely for a brief flowering season. Varieties chiefly interesting because of strikingly abnormal qualities not valuable in landscape nor in forestry are to be excluded from the Arboretum. (But a place may be provided apart from the main collection for such plants.) Shrubs of any genus are to be exhibited generally before or under the trees of that genus, and they are to be placed so as ultimately to illustrate the character of each species, first, when standing singly, second, when clustered in groups, third, when massed in open ground, fourth, when grown as underwood.

I will state only the more important steps taken in pursuit of this scheme and those not necessarily in exact chronological order. A list of genera was prepared with an estimate of the space probably required by each genus in order to exhibit the species that would be likely to live at Biltmore. By much careful study and adjustment, and after many trials and extensions and revisions, a line of road was devised which would provide the necessary space in the most satisfactory manner, at the same time fulfilling the other functions of pleasure road and line of forest transportation. Specimens were purchased and propagated from, and there are now growing on the nursery several plants each of nearly all the species and varieties of woody plants probably hardy at Biltmore that are regularly for sale in the nurseries of America and Europe. In addition to these, many native American species not commonly cultivated and not for sale by nurserymen have been collected; some plants have been secured by exchange; and seeds, sent here by the East Indian Forest Department and others, have been propagated. But it is estimated by Mr. Manning and Mr. Beadle that there are about 1000 species of North American woody plants probably hardy at Biltmore which we have not yet secured. In other words we have on the nursery about half the North American species which can grow here.

Last fall we made an attempt to assign definite space to the species, and Mr. Manning and I spent several days in going over the road with the maps before us in order to adjust the arrangement to the particular conditions of the ground and the landscape. The basis upon which this assignment of space was made was the nursery list of plants on hand, and, although a small per centum allowance of space was made for future additions to the list by collection, exchange or purchase, no definite space could be assigned to the species thus to be acquired. Some confusion was apparent at this time as to the place the horticultural varieties were to occupy in the collection. The more [926]objectionable forms were kept in the background and upon loop roads so far as convenient, but the sharp distinction between the main collection and the collection of horticultural curiosities was not at all apparent.

On coming down here in March I met Mr. Pinchot and had several discussions with him relative to the Arboretum. He offered criticisms of our present plans upon two points: first, he said, they provided for an unnecessary and deplorable predominance of horticultural curiosities of little or no pertinence to the main objects of the Arboretum, landscape improvement and economic forestry, and ignored the distinction made in the original scheme between the main collection and the collection of horticultural forms; and second, we were assigning space to species and preparing to begin planting without making specific provision for the large number of species hardy at Biltmore which have not yet been procured and many of which are likely to be procured by collection, gift or exchange in the immediate future. At my request he embodied his criticisms in a letter dated 15th March, a copy of which I have previously sent you. Although he enlarges much more on the mistake he believes to have been made in regard to the horticultural varieties than upon the other point, I can not but regard the last as a more severe criticism. In a work of this sort, if such a distinction can be made, errors of omission are worse than errors of commission, for objectionable trees can be cut out when they are found to have been wrongly included, but if no space is reserved for trees that ought to be included it will generally be impossible to plant them when they have been procured.

When Mr. Manning came to Biltmore we had a discussion, on the 22nd March, at which Mr. Pinchot, Mr. Beadle and Rick were also present. Rick wrote out a memorandum of the conclusions reached at that discussion and I enclose a copy of that memorandum with this letter. The division of the plants into three classes is the best solution we could work out for the difficulties of dealing with the horticultural forms. Class I. is the “main collection,” which is to consist of species, natural varieties, and the comparatively few horticultural varieties that by their peculiarities affect the landscape in a desirable way for a considerable period of the year. Class II. includes all other horticultural varieties that are not distinctly objectionable in landscape; in general, such as those distinguished only by peculiarities of fruit or flower, and those differing so inconspicuously from their types as to produce practically the same effect in landscape, and those of marked peculiarities that would not recommend them for general use in landscape planting, although they could not be called distinctly objectionable excentricities. Class III. is to be of the latter kind; excentricities of a sort not to be used in any planting of a natural landscape character. Class II. is to be kept distinct by confining it to specified loop roads upon none of which Class I. will be exhibited, and Class III. is to be in a place apart, perhaps on the nursery. I am aware that it will be difficult to draw the lines separating these classes, but unless we are to exclude the valuable varieties with the useless or to include them all and make the [927]Arboretum predominantly a collection of garden forms, I see no way of avoiding this difficulty. To judge the character of these varieties it is necessary, in many cases, to have observed them at least through one year and to have noted their appearance at the different seasons. We shall have to depend almost entirely upon Mr. Beadle for this observation of the plants, and I am inclined to think that, with some written criterions to guide him in addition to my conversations with him on this subject, he will be able to make the division as well as it can be done.

With regard to the other principal subject of discussion, we all came to the conclusion that if the Arboretum is to have at all the completeness aimed at in the original scheme, it is essential that before space is assigned for planting a full list must be made of all species of woody plants known to botany that are likely to be hardy at Biltmore, and that this list must form the basis for the assignment of space. A difference of opinion appeared, however, as to the best method of preparing this list. Mr. Manning was of the opinion that it could be prepared with sufficient accuracy and thoroughness in our office; while Mr. Pinchot and Mr. Beadle thought that a scientific man of authoritative standing ought to be employed to prepare it. We agreed that Prof. Sargent’s opinion should be asked upon this point, and I wrote him accordingly, the letter of which a copy is enclosed.

His reply of May 4, 95 will be found in full also at the end of this letter, but I will state its substance here:

An Arboretum has real scientific value only when on an independent and permanent basis and under the control of scientific men. As these conditions are out of the question at Biltmore I would advise you to abandon the idea of giving the Biltmore Arboretum scientific value and to give it a “more popular ornamental and picturesque character.” In such an Arboretum (he seems to imply) it would not be of serious consequence if completeness were not secured and if space were not provided for plants that do not happen to have been yet procured. In reply to the question, “Is it essential to the adequate preparation of this list of woody plants known to botany probably hardy at Biltmore that the work should be placed in the hands of a botanist of unquestionable and authoritative standing? I should say decidedly, yes. You ask me to recommend a man who for a moderate compensation would consent to be responsible for your list and whose position would give authority to the work. I do not know anyone that I could recommend for this. If you decide, however, to go on with the Arboretum as originally planned I am willing, if it would be any relief to you, to discuss the lists with your representative and to give him such advice and assistance as I have time for.

I do not fully understand Prof. Sargent’s position, but I am not inclined to give up the possibility of an ultimate approach to completeness in the Biltmore Arboretum without an effort. I am still inclined to think that we ought to base our planting plans upon as complete a list of the hardy species as it is practicable to procure. If you agree with me, the main questions become, What are the limits of practicability? and How can we get the best practicable [928]list? As Prof. Sargent cannot recommend a fitting man, we might take up his offer and ask him to direct and supervise someone employed by us in the preparation of the list.

The best available man for such work will be difficult to find. We should naturally turn to Mr. Manning to do this work, but there are several drawbacks to our throwing it upon him. For example, it has been pointed out that much the greater part of the books to be consulted are in Latin, French and German, and if his unfamiliarity with these languages should not form an absolute bar to his doing the work without errors, it would be such a grave encumbrance to him as to suggest the economy of employing a man thoroughly familiar with the languages in question. Moreover Mr. Manning is already very busy with the regular work of the office and this would be an additional burden of a kind that he could not rest upon his subordinates without seriously slighting its importance. I have thought of Mr. Pinchot and I believe he might be willing to undertake the work as part of his regular duties to Mr. Vanderbilt. He is master of the necessary languages, is thoroughly familiar with Biltmore conditions, and has some other special advantages, but I am afraid his botanical knowledge is much more limited than Mr. Manning’s. Perhaps our best course will now be to take Prof. Sargent into conference and discuss with him, verbally, how under the circumstances the list may best be prepared.

Since a large part of the Arboretum land will probably be grubbed and cultivated during the Summer, and will be ready for planting next Spring, it is imperative that we should take steps looking to the preparation of planting plans in due season. As the first step in their preparation is the making of the list and as that will probably be a matter of weeks or months, we must set about it forthwith.

Faithfully yours,