THE DERBY ARBORETUM. 517 



try of art. If one looks at the Derby arboretum, therefore, as an 

 example of Mr. London's landscape-gardening, one would not get a 

 high idea of his taste. But I believe this would not be judging him 

 fairly, as I think he intended this place as a garden for instructing 

 the British public in arboriculture, even more than as a specimen 

 of public pleasure-grounds. And every one who is familiar with 

 botanical gardens, knows how ugly they generally are, from the 

 very plain reason, that instead of planting only beautiful objects, 

 they must necessarily contain a great mass of species, very uninter- 

 esting except to the scientific student. 



I noticed one tree that was entirely new to me, and which I am 

 sure will be a valuable acquisition to our pleasure-grounds at home. 

 It is the " hoary Pyrus," from Nepaul, Pyrus vestita, a very strik- 

 ing tree, in its large foliage, which is dark green above, and hoary 

 white below. It is very vigorous and hardy ; the specimen about 

 thirty feet high. 



The Derby arboretum, altogether, as I learned there, cost above 

 $50,000. Considered as the creation and bequest of a private citi- 

 zen to his townsmen (and to the country at large), it is certainly a 

 magnificent donation. When one remembers what a gratification 

 is afforded to the numerous inhabitants of a large town, for all time 

 to come, by this arboretum, what a refreshment after a day's labor 

 for those who have no garden of their own, what an instructive 

 walk every year increasing in extent even for those who have, 

 what an attraction to strangers, and what a source of pride to the 

 citizens to whom it especially belongs, one cannot but look upon 

 Mr. Strutt's gift, as something done in the largest spirit of philan- 

 thropy. Quite as considerable sums have often been given by mer- 

 chants in my own country, to found hospitals and asylums for the 

 diseased in mind and body. Perhaps it may not be long before 

 some one of them will follow the example of Mr. Strutt, and form a 

 public garden or park, as such places should be formed, and present 

 it to one of our large cities or towns, now so much in need of it. 

 Would it not keep his memory more lovingly fresh in the minds of 

 his fellow-men, and their descendants, than any other bequest it is 



sible to conceive ? 



THE BOTANIC GARDEN IN REGENT'S PARK. As a pendant to 



