"The following extract from the Bulletin of the Bussey Institution will be of interest to all, even if the facts are known to some: 'In the spring of 1872, the President and Fellows of Harvard College received a gift of $100,000 from the trustees under the will of the late James Arnold, merchant, of New Bedford, Mass., for the purpose of establishing at the Bussey Institution, a professorship of tree culture, and creating and maintaining on the Bussey estate an Arboretum, which should ultimately contain, as far as practicable, all the trees, shrubs and herbaceous plants, either indigenous or exotic, which can be raised in the open air at West Roxbury. At least two-thirds of the income of the fund is to be accumulated until the fund amounts to at least $150,000, and the Bussey estate (Woodland Hill), in West Roxbury, passes completely into the hands of the President and Fellows of Harvard College. A particular portion of the estate has been specified as the site of the Arboretum, in the indenture which defines the object and terms of the gift - a portion which contains about one hundred and thirty-seven acres, and is the finest part of the whole estate, as regards the variety of its soils, the beauty and variety of the trees already growing upon it, and the lay of the land.

An Arboretum is intended to educate the public, as well as the special students who resort to it. When Woodland Hill comes into the possession of the President and Fellows, the Arnold Arboretum will doubtless be laid out as an open park, with suitable walks and roadways. It can hardly fail to become a beautiful, wholesome and instructive resort, which will be more and more precious as the population grows denser about it.'

" From still another point of view, the Professorship of Arboriculture and the Arboretum are substantial additions to the University. The cultivation and preservation of forests will become, in no long time, a matter of national concern. The natural forests of the country are already rapidly disappearing, and wood and timber, at no distant day, will be scarce and dear commodities, as they have long been in many countries in Europe.

"In April, 1874, Mrs. Motley conveyed all her life interest in the Bussey estate to the President and Fellows of Harvard College, so that the whole estate is now at their disposal. In 1872, the first seed was planted for the Arboretum; but at that time, and up to the spring of 1879, much of the work, such as the raising of plants, seeds and cuttings done at the Bussey Institution, was for the Botanic Garden at Cambridge, as well as for the exchanges of the Arboretum. Since 1879, the whole time has been devoted to raising plams for the Arboretum; and the number of new and rare plants propagated has rapidly increased.

"In 1875, there were one hundred and twenty-eight species raised. In 1877, Mr. Sargent wrote that, judging from the immense number of letters which were annually sent him, there was a steadily-increasing interest felt in the Arboretum. It was then but five years since its establishment; but its usefulness and influence were already evident, and to its influence could be traced the planting during that year, of nearly half a million trees in the New England States.

" In December, 1882, an arrangement was made with the Park Commissioners of the City of Boston, which, without interfering with the scientific aims of the Arboretum, will increase its local influence by freely opening its collections to the public, and by securing for it additional and greatly-needed land, suitable and dignified approaches, and car-age drives.

" The objects of the Arboretum may be definitely stated in a few brief words, that all can understand. First, a school of Arboriculture for the study of trees and shrubs and their uses for timber for ornament, and otherwise. Second, a museum of living specimens of all ligneous plants that will stand the climate at West Roxbury, planted and arranged in botanical order. Third, a museum for reference, containing a dried collection of all ligneous plants, properly labelled with the time of flowering, native location, and, if foreign, the country where they are indigenous; also a full collection of specimens of wood, bark, fruit, seeds, etc. Fourth, a library containing all the best works on Dendrology, for the use of students or others interested in the science of tree culture.

'* In closing this somewhat lengthy, yet inadequate account of our visit to the Arboretum, we must not omit to say that its success is due to the untiring and indefatigable labors of the Director, Professor Charles S. Sargent, whose large correspondence, and thorough knowledge of all that pertains to the duties of his office, have already given to the horticultural world one of the grandest educational institutions this generation has been blessed with. We sincerely hope he may be as successful in the future as he has been in the past, in the introduction of so many of the most beautiful trees and shrubs to adorn our parks and gardens. We desire also to acknowledge the courtesy and kind attention of Mr. Jackson Dawson, the gardener at the Arboretum, who so generously gave us his time and valuable information which has enabled us to make this report.

"The Committee award to Mr. Dawson a gratuity of $20 for skilful propagation, and culture of hardy trees and shrubs".