and of Rural Improvement generally, during 1812. 665 



The Derby Arboretum continues to flourish, as appears by 

 the Annual Report, published in the Derby Reporter of No- 

 vember 10. 1842. The total income for the support of this 

 Arboretum, received from annual subscriptions and money taken 

 at the gates, (luring the past year, was .'5!)H/. ; a sum which 

 exceeded the expenditure, even though some extraordinary 

 charges were incurred. We are happy to see, by the same 

 Journal, that another scene of recreation 1ms been provided for 

 the people of Derby by the town. It is a piece of meadow 

 land, on which are being formed two walks, eaeh IS ft. wide, 

 and together extending 3600 ft., and planted on both sides with 

 standard trees. In order to do honour to Mr. Strut!, the 

 founder of the Derby Arboretum, that gentleman was re- 

 quested to plant one tree, to lie called the Derby Oak, and Mr. 

 Strutt accordingly planted it on the 10th of November, 1842. 

 " It was an oak sapling, measuring 14 ft. in. high, and 9 in. 

 in circumference. The tree is planted at the point of junction 

 of the two walks. A mound 30 ft. in diameter, and raised 2 ft. 



practical botanists among the numerous young persons who throng the gravel 

 walks, than all the dry Moras put together, and create a perception of the 

 interest which may he taken in plants and shrubs among those who hitherto 

 have passed them unheeded. Instead of grumbling at the loss of the old trees 

 in Kensington Gardens, for which these plants have been substituted, and 

 avoiding the walks, these parts of the Gardens will henceforth become the 

 most frequented. What a pleasant task, and especially for those who take 

 1 duty walks,' the dullest of walks, to wander along the paths, making at 

 each walk one class of shrubs the subject of observation, taking first the 

 elms, then the thorns, and so on. These tickets give all the information 

 which can be desired ; the scientific name, the English name, the class to 

 which the plant belongs, its natural habitation, ami when it was first introduced 

 into this country. They might serve as models to other places which more 

 especially demand proper tickets. Let us hope they may shame the National 

 Gallery into the adoption of a competent and systematic mode of ticketing 

 the pictures. Surely the executive officers might concoct tickets which should 

 give all the requisite information, and save those, the expense of a catalogue 

 who are unable to afford to purchase one. The National Gallery is supported 

 for the instruction of the public, ami it is the duty of its officers to render it 

 as efficient as possible in this object. In all humility let us ask why a ticket, 

 giving information like the following, should not be appended to each frame : — 



1. 



RESURRECTION OF LAZARUS. 

 SliHASTlANO DEL 1'IOMHO. 



uorn 14-85 : died 1547. 

 venetian school. 



But our present notice is rather to speak of the good deeds of the Board of 

 Works, than the neglect at the National Gallery. We cannot say much in 

 praise of the new fountain in Kensington Gardens [sec our Remarks, p.88H], 

 but it was an excellent thought to grain tin- alcoves like dark oak, which has 

 effectually stopped all the loose scribbling which formerly defiled them." (At/ic- 

 ruettm, 1842, p. 992.) 



