THE 



GARDENER'S MAGAZINE, 



JUNE, 1839. 



ORIGINAL COMMUNICATIONS. 



Art. I. Design for the Leeds Zoological and Botanical Gardens, 

 approved of by the Provisional Committee, and proposed to be erected 

 'when a sufficient Sum has been subscribed. By William Billing- 

 ton, Civil Engineer and Architect, assisted in the Ground Work by 

 Edward Davis, Botanist and Landscape-Gardener. Communi- 

 cated to the " Gardener's Magazine" by Joshua Major, Land- 

 scape-Gardener, Knowstrop, near Leeds. 



You state (Vol. XIV. p. 194.) that you have neither seen nor 

 heard any thing of the plans which were offered in competition 

 for the Leeds Zoological and Botanical Gardens, with the 

 exception of one by Mr. Pringle (given in the same volume, 

 p. 248.), It was my intention to send you a copy of the 

 successful plan, immediately after the competition plans were 

 exhibited ; but it was some time before I could procure one ; and 

 since then business has prevented my doing so. However, I now 

 send you a lithographic copy of the plan (see Jig. 61.); but how 

 far its arrangements may be adhered to I cannot tell, as I have 

 not seen the gardens since the commencement of the works. 



I was frequently solicited by some of the gentlemen connected 

 with the Society, to compete for the premiums offered for the 

 best plans, and having myself, at the first outset, fixed on the 

 site for the gardens, and given my opinion as to its eligibility, 

 I naturally felt a wish to do all that I could to promote an object 

 so desirable ; consequently, I sent the plan I now hand to you 

 (see fig. 69.), with an understanding that it should not be put 

 in competition for the premium offered ; as plans are frequently 

 submitted by men inexperienced in the art of laying out grounds, 

 and which have an equal chance with those submitted by pro- 

 fessional men, when they are left to the decision of incompetent 

 judges. My plan may be considered incomplete, inasmuch as 

 I have not shown elevations of the buildings proposed to be 

 erected, and in its not being more explicit in the botanical 

 arrangements ; but time would not then permit my going more into 

 detail ; and, considering the general disposition of the plan as 

 being of the most importance at first, I let that suffice, with 

 the exception of explanatory observations. It is only a few weeks 

 since I received back the plan (in a tattered condition), the coun- 



Vol. XV. — No. 111. Y 



