44 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



the drawback of a poor, cold, clay soil, the situation is anything but 

 ideal for the growth of such vegetation as is desired towards the 

 arboreal furnishing of a public park. Here we had a valuable object- 

 lesson regarding the use of trees and shrubs unsuited for the situation, as 

 the bulk of the earlier planted trees, especially the poplars and willows, 

 did not last quite twenty-five years. The replanting with other 

 species is gradually making good the loss, but it is not easy to make 

 up a leeway of a full generation. 



Cathkin Braes Park. 



Situated six miles from the city, with an area of 49 acres. This 

 park was given, in 1886, to his native city by the late Mr. James 

 Dick, who made rather strict conditions as to its use and treatment, 

 as he desired it to be kept as nearly as possible in its natural state. 

 His wishes are faithfully adhered to. The situation being high, it 

 commands a magnificent view of the city and lower reaches of the 

 Clyde valley. Yearly it is increasing in favour, and on public holi- 

 days is a popular place of resort. 



With the passing of the City Extension Act of 1891, a new epoch 

 in the history of the parks system began. Provision had to be 

 made for parks and recreation grounds in the district annexed, apart 

 from any which happened to be within the added areas. One of 

 the most important acquisitions was that of the Gardens belonging 

 to the Royal Botanical Institution of Glasgow, situated in the western 

 district. Of the difficulties and struggles which the old Royal Botanic 

 Society had in maintaining these Gardens we cannot fully enter upon 

 here. Suffice it to say that it takes much enthusiasm, as well as 

 money, to maintain a Botanic Garden which is not subsidized by 

 the State or a municipality. Looking back on the history of these 

 Gardens, one hardly knows which to admire most — the perseverance 

 or the liberality of the promoters. All honour to them in their 

 great work ! There is, however, a limit to everything, and the 

 struggle was too one-sided and too severe to last. Fortunately 

 for the city, the Corporation took up the burden, and the citizens 

 may rejoice that they now possess not only a delightful resort, but 

 an institution which plays an important part in the educational 

 forces of the city. 



To many strangers the keeping-up of a Botanical Garden by a 

 municipality is somewhat of a surprise, as usually such institutions 

 are owned and entirely maintained by the State, such as those of 

 Kew, Edinburgh, and Dublin, or by a University, as at Oxford and 

 Cambridge. I may say, however, that Liverpool and Belfast Cor- 

 porations now own and control Botanic Gardens similar to those of 

 Glasgow, and probably at no distant date Birmingham and other cities 

 may follow suit and rescue their Gardens which struggle on under 

 adverse circumstances from the oblivion which threatens them. 



