516 LETTERS FROM ENGLAND. 



collection, consisting of about a thousand' different species and varie- 

 ties, is arranged according to the natnill system, so t'liat,:the bota- 

 nist may study classifioatipn, as wpU as structure and growtli, with 

 the whole clearly before his eyes. , As the great point .is. to show 

 the natural character of the different trees and shrubs, they are all 

 planted quite separately, and aUowed room to grow on ^1 sides ; 

 and no pruning which would prevent^ the natural development of 

 the habits of the tree or shrub, is permdtted.' 



The whole arboretum was laid out and planted ten years ago — 

 in 1840; so that,' of course, one can, now, very well judge of its 

 yalue and its effects. 



That it is, and will be, one of the' most useful and instructive 

 public gardens in the world, there can be no doubt; for it certainly 

 combines the greatest possible amount of instruction, with a great 

 deal of pleasure for all "classes, and especially the working classgs;; 

 ■Hiat it may appeal largely to the sympathies of the latter, even to 

 those to whom all trees are alike, there is a fine piece of smdfeth 

 lawn (added, -I think, to th^ original, eleven acres), expressly used as 

 a skittle graund, — a favorite English game iwith ball ; at^ which 

 numbers of men and boys were playing while I was there. - 



As regards taste, I do not hesitate to confess my disappointment. 

 There is no other beauty in these grounds, than what grows out of 

 the entire surface 4)eing covered with grass, neatly mown, with 

 "broad straight walks through the central portions, and a, series, pf^ 

 narrower covered walks, making a connected circuit, of 'the whole. 

 Tlie peculiarity of the design 'belongs to the surface of liie ground. 

 This was naturally a level ; but in order to produce the greatest pos- 

 sible intricacy and variety, in a limited space, it was thrown up, 

 here and there, into ridges from six to ten feet high. These ridges 

 are not abrjipt, but gentle; and the walks are led between them,>so 

 that even when there are no inteiTening trees and shrubs, you could 

 not easily see a person in one walk from another one parallel to it, 

 though only twenty or thirty feet off. If these ri4geSj or undula- 

 tions in the surface, had been cleverly planted with groups and 

 masses of trees and shrubs, the effect would -have ,been veiy good; 

 but dotted as they are >vith scattered Single trees and shrubs, the re- 

 sult is a little harsh, with neither the ease of nature nor the symme- 



