188 PARKS AND PLEASURE-GROUNDS. 



tory of the garden and of horticulture in the locahty. 

 Under the present system much curious matter is 

 continually lost. An aged and experienced curator 

 dies every now and then^ and the whole store of 

 knowledge of which his memory was the only record 

 passes away. 



(2.) Zoological Gardens. — These places of public 

 resort_, though but recently established, have already 

 received much attention, and have contributed largely 

 to popular amusement and instruction. Formerly col- 

 lections of wild beasts were immured in the Tower of 

 London, in Exeter Change, and in other confined local- 

 ities, or at most were carried about in travellmg caravans. 

 The arrangements of the menageries in the Jardin des 

 Plantes at Paris probably first suggested the union of 

 collections of hving animals with gardens. This plan, 

 at least, was adopted by the Zoological Society of 

 London, and it has been subsequently followed by various 

 kindred institutions throughout the country. Of course, 

 in aU these cases the accommodation for the animals 

 has been the main object, and the garden only an acces- 

 sory appendage; but neatness and cleanliness are the 

 quahties which we most desire to find in menageries, 

 and with these the trimness of gardens sufficiently 

 accords. Let the necessary buildings be tastefully and 

 conveniently arranged, and we cannot conceive a more 

 appropriate filling up of the picture than that supphed 

 by lawns, flowers, shrubs, and trees. For holiday folks, 

 who probably form a majority of those who frequent 

 zoological gardens, the promenade afforded by the neat 

 gravel walks and weU-shaven lawns is an agreeable addi- 

 tion to the other pleasures of the visit. Certain it is, 

 at least, that these gardens have been among the most 



