Marcli  12,  1903. 
JOVRKAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER, 
I 
821  acres.  In  all,  Birmingham  possesses  ahont  Sr.O  acres  of  | 
pleasure  grounds. 
Sheffield,  although  not  considered  beautiful,  has  some  excel¬ 
lent  parks  which  would  not  disgrace  any  city.  As  long  ago  as 
1841  the  laying  out  of  Norfolk  Park  was  commenced  by  the  then 
Duke  of  Norfolk,  and  completed  by  his  successors,  who  devoted 
it  to  public  use,  but  entirely  defraying  the  cost  of  its  mainten¬ 
ance.  This  is  .still  done  by  the  present  Duke.  The  park  is  | 
attractively  laid  out  with  avenues  of  Limes  and  Oaks,  belts  of  , 
wood  and  shrubbery,  large  grassy  spaces  for  recreation,  and  com¬ 
prises  an  area  of  (50  acres.  Firth  Park,  3t)  acres,  was  presented 
to  Sheffield  by  a  local  benefactor,  Mark  Firth,  Fstp,  since 
deceased.  The  park  was  opened  in  187o  by  the  Prince  and  j 
Princc.ss  of  Wales,  our  present  King  and  Queen.  Weston  Park  ' 
was  also  opened  the  same  year.  It  is  adorned  with  fine  forest  | 
trees,  shrubs,  greensward,  and  flower  beds.  The  grounds  contain  j 
a  statue  of  Fbenezer  Elliott,  the  •'Corn-Law  Rhymer.”  There  i 
is  also  a  valuable  museum  attached,  and  a  .superb  Art  Gallery, 
named  the  IMappin  Art  Gallery.  Meersbrook  Park,  .37  acres  in 
extent,  contains  the  famous  Ruskin  IMuseum.  Hillsbro’  Park, 
.'50  acres,  was  opened  t('n  years  ago.  It  has  many  tine  trees  of 
long  growth.  The  Yorkshire  Agriculturhl  Society  frequently 
holds  its  vast  annual  show  here.  High  Hazel  Park,  47  acres  in 
extent,  was  opened  in  189-'),  and  is  still  in  course  of  development. 
A  new  park  of  42  acri's,  called  the  Rivelin  Valley  Park,  is  in 
contemplation.  The  B!ota)iical  Gardens,  of  18  acres,  are  now 
in  the  hands  of  the  corporation,  and  extensive  improvements  are 
in  progress  to  adapt  tiu'se  gardens  to  public  use.  Then  there  are 
the  Endcliffo  and  Whiteley  Woods,  which  havi''  been  acquired  by 
the  aulliorities  and  adapted  for  public  use  and  enjoyment.  They 
arc  about  2.V  miles  long,  making  a  delightful  promenade,  througli 
which  runs  the  Porter  brook,  while  there  are  sev^eral  dams  with 
facilities  for  skating,  bathing,  and  the  preservation  of  waterfowl. 
In  Sheffield,  there  are  also  (apart  from  the  parks)  nine  re- 
creation 
grounds,  vary¬ 
ing  from  20  to 
14  acres  in  size. 
Six  of  these 
spaces  were 
presented  t  o 
the  city  by  the 
present  Duke  of 
Norfolk,  who 
was  the  city’s 
fir  s  t  L  o  r  d 
Mayor.  The 
total  area  of 
parks  and  open 
spaces  in  Shef¬ 
field  is  about 
400  acres. 
The  parks, 
gardens,  and 
open  spaces  of 
Croydon,  Kent, 
number  about 
1  4,  w  i  t  h  a  n 
acreage  of  328 
acres.  The 
largest  grounds 
are  Addington 
Hills,  87  acres; 
Wandle  Park, 
21^  acres; 
Dunpas  Hill, 
3  5  acres; 
Thornton 
Heath,  13} 
acres ;  Croham 
Hurst  87  acres ; 
IT  p  p  e  r  No  r- 
w  o  o  d,  12} 
acres ;  Grange 
Wood, 29  acres; 
Park  Hill.  9 
acres  ;  Brighton 
Road,  9  acres  ; 
W  o  o  d  s  i  d  e 
Green,  6  acres; 
W  h  i  t  e  h  o  r  se 
Road.  4}  acres  : 
Church  Read 
R  e  c  r  e  a  t  i  n  n 
Ground,  1  } 
acres ;  Tow  n 
Hall  Gardens, 
ij  acres. 
T  h  e  princi¬ 
pal  places  in 
Ireland  which 
contain  parks 
are  Dublin  and 
Belfast.  Dublin 
owns  four.  Of 
thise,  Phoenix 
Park  is  a  v<'rv 
large  park, 
b  e  i  n  g  2,00  () 
acres  in  extent. 
In  comparison, 
St.  Stephen’s 
Green,  23  acres, 
is  of  diminutive 
s  i  z  e.  The 
Botanic  Gar¬ 
dens', Glasnevin, 
are  42  acres. 
The  I  ark  Walk  at  Hopetoun. 
