Ujiion of Horticulture and Botany in Public Gardens. 59 



Art. II. The Derhy Arboretum, and probable Influence of Mr. 

 Strutfs Example ; with some Remarks on the Advantages that uiould 

 result from uniting Horticulture with Botany in Public Gardens. 

 By W. 



Mr. Strutt has made a munificent gift to the people of 

 Derby, and there are two reasons for supposing that his libe- 

 rahty will not be thrown away. In the first place, you. Sir, have 

 the laying out of the grounds, which will therefore become a 

 model for all similar localities. Secondly, I hear that Mr. Strutt 

 has made it an imperative condition that the garden shall be 

 open to the public two days in the week, one of which is Sunday. 

 If this is true, the artisans of Derby will enjoy a rare opportu- 

 nity of expanding their minds by the contemplation of nature, 

 and of refining and cultivating their taste by frequent observa- 

 tion of the noblest combinations of artistical gardening. That 

 such an institution, thus auspiciously commenced, may be ade- 

 quately supported, must be the ardent wish of every friend to 

 popular improvement. For my own part, I confess I would rather 

 that a town should never undertake or commence a public garden, 

 than carelessly, ignorantly, or indolently, suffer it, when once 

 completed, to go to decay. Such, I much fear, will be the 

 fate of the noble and, in some respects, unparalleled Botanical 

 Garden of Sheffield, upon which, in a late Number, you bestowed 

 high and well-deserved commendation. Should that be the case, 

 the fault will certainly not be with the working classes, who have 

 as yet not been allowed to contribute towards its support; for, to 

 a mechanic, the payment of a shilling, and exclusion on Sunday, 

 the only day on which he has leisure for the contemplation of 

 nature, form a violent prohibition against entering its precincts. 

 At present the funds are very low, so low indeed that I hear it 

 is doubtful how much longer they will suffice to keep the garden 

 open. Evidently, then, the wealthier and middle classes of Shef- 

 field are apathetic ; they know not the value of the jewel which 

 has fallen into their keeping. Such is but too generally the 

 case with the inhabitants of our commercial towns ; they toil all 

 their lives for wealth, which, when accumulated, they know 

 not how to enjoy. But why not allow the working classes an 

 opportunity of one day in the week breathing a pure atmosphere, 

 while they contemplate the wild grandeur of the Hallamshire 

 hills, or gaze with w^onder on the products of distant lands? 

 Why not open the garden on a Sunday at a moderate charge? 

 Alas ! clerical bigotry forbids this simple, obvious, and effective 

 means of recruiting the dwindled funds of the institution. The 

 glories of nature are doomed to be a sealed book on the Sabbath, 

 Svhile the doors of the alehouse are left open to invite the listless 

 passer-by. Thus are men debarred fx'om rational and elevating 



