BERLIN AND POTSDAM, ery 
BERLIN AND POTSDAM. 
4th August. 
Berlin, the chief town of the German Empire, with a population 
of about 1,660,000, stands on the river Spree, about 100 miles due 
south from the Baltic Sea in the neighbourhood of Stettin, and 
110 feet above sea-level. Situated nearly in the middle of the 
Empire, it is a centre of great commercial activity, as well as 
the seat of the Imperial Government, and the residence of the 
Emperor and his Court. Built in the midst of an extensive sandy 
plain, it suffers in picturesque beauty when compared with most 
other European capitals; but, nevertheless, it contains many 
busy and well-edificed streets, numerous handsome buildings, 
with spacious squares, parks, and open spaces skilfully laid out 
and well kept, which add much to the beauty and attractiveness 
of the city. 
In Berlin the objects of most interest to arboriculturists are 
the public parks and gardens, the Unter den Linden, and the 
various museums of natural science and rural affairs. The chief 
public park, and the largest, is the celebrated Thiergarten. It 
lies on the west of Berlin, the main entrance from the city being 
the Brandenburg Gate, at the top of the Unter den Linden, and 
it extends about 2 miles west towards Charlottenburg, with an 
average breadth ‘of half a mile, and a total area of over 600 acres. 
The surface is comparatively level, but it is well diversified with 
plantations, which exhibit the character of natural forest, and 
occupy about two-thirds of the space, while the remainder is 
devoted to formal avenues, neatly kept lawns and flower-gardens, 
and a series of lovely sheets of water, which add considerably to 
the beauty of the scene. Roads and walks traverse the park in 
every direction, so that all parts are easily reached and seen to 
the best advantage. The semi-natural style is rather pleasing at 
the first glance, but, to British tastes, soon becomes somewhat 
monotonous from the want of contrast and variety in the size 
and species of the trees and shrubs employed in the arboreal 
embellishments, and the dull sameness of the foliage and contour 
presented to the eye at every turn. 
The famous Unter den Linden extends about a mile in length, 
from the Brandenburg Gate to the Royal Palace, with a width of 
about 200 feet, the centre of the street being adorned with several 
rows of lime trees, from which it derives its widely known name. 
It is one of the busiest streets in Europe, and the most fashion- 
able promenade in Berlin; and when brilliantly lighted up at 
1 By Mr Dunn. 
