34 MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY 



ported upon in the Arboretum trial grounds. In this way the 

 people of the country are protected from losses and discourage- 

 ments. Where else can the public learn the secrets of the Rhodo- 

 dendrons, the eccentricities of the Azaleas, the varied habits of the 

 Viburnums, and the unexpected values of the Lilacs? 



How are all these new things obtained? A book of romantic 

 adventure might be written in answer to that question. Plant 

 hunters sent out by the Arboretum have penetrated to corners of 

 the world where the foot of a white man has never trodden before. 

 The most famous of these plant hunters is Ernest H. Wilson, who 

 has given hundreds of plants to the world through the Arnold 

 Arboretum. How he rolled down a mountain side in western 

 China and lay for weeks in a mission hut is now a well-known story. 

 Among the most notable plants introduced by the x\rnold Arbore- 

 tum are Azalea Kaempfcri, the tree Lilac, the Sargent Cherry, the 

 climbing Hydrangea, and the Japanese Barberry. 



The Arboretum had its origin in the imagination of George B. 

 Emerson and the generosity of James Arnold. Mr. Arnold, a New 

 Bedford merchant, left $100,000 to be used for horticultural and 

 agricultural purposes. Mr. Emerson was one of the trustees in 

 charge of this fund. He it was who formulated the plan by which 

 Harvard LTniversity took the bequest and turned over a part of 

 the Bussey farm for an arboretum in which every tree and shrub 

 suited to this climate should be grown. Later an agreement was 

 made Avith the city of Boston whereby the latter contracted to lay 

 out a system of walks and drives, police the grounds, and pay 

 whatever taxes might be levied. \n return the Arboretum was 

 made virtually a part of the park system. This great tree museum 

 now occupies 220 acres of hill, valley, and meadow. 



For the most part the trees have been arranged in family groups 

 so that they can be studied to the best advantage. Single indi- 

 viduals of the native trees have been planted far enough away from 

 the groups to make possible their full and free development. 



The Arboretum is designed for serious study, yet everywhere 

 the attempt has been made to group the trees and shrubs in such 

 a way that the natural features of the trees may be preserved. 

 Much can be seen by walking or driving around the public roads, 

 but much is also missed. The onlv wav to get all that the Arbore- 



