550 THE MAGAZINE OF HORTICULTURE. 



and in bad shape, being long and narrow and without any- 

 distant prospect, has been transformed into one of the most 

 interesting places in England. 



The late Mr, J. C. London designed and directed the 

 improvements, which were all completed and the grounds 

 opened with great ceremonies on the 16th September, 1840, 

 and as Mr. Loudon's reasons for the plans he proposed and 

 which were adopted are more concise, comprehensive and 

 interesting than anything I can say, I will give them in his 

 own words : — 



" The instructions given to me by Mr. Strutt respecting 

 laying out this public garden were, that it was intended to 

 be a place of recreation for the inhabitants of Derby and the 

 neighborhood, and for all other persons who chose to come 

 to see it. That it should be open two days in the week and 

 that one of these days should be Sunday, (during proper 

 hours,) and that on other days a small sum should be required 

 from persons entering the garden, or yearly admissions should 

 be granted for certain moderate sums. That the gardens 

 should be so laid out and arranged as not to be expensive to 

 keep up. That a flower garden and cottage, with the planta- 

 tions already existing, should, if possible, be preserved. That 

 a tool-house, covered with ivy, should also be preserved. 

 That two lodges, with gates at the two extremities, should 

 be built, and that each lodge should have a room, to be con- 

 sidered as a public room, into which strangers might go and 

 sit down, taking their own refreshments with them, without 

 any charge being made by the occupant of the lodges, unless 

 some assistance, such as hot water, plates, knives and forks, 

 &c., were required, in which case a small voluntary gratuity 

 might be given. That there should be proper yards and con- 

 veniences at each lodge, for the use of the public, apart from 

 those to be exclusively used by the occupant of the lodge. 

 That there should be open spaces in two or more parts of the 

 garden, in which large tents might be pitched, a band of 

 music placed, dancing carried on, &c., &c. That certain 

 vases and pedestals now in the flower garden, and also cer- 

 tain others in Mr. Strutt's garden in Derby, should be retained 



