323. The Thier Garten (wild beast garden) lies immediately outside the Brandenburg Gate, the road from which forms a straight avenue through it from Berlin to Charlottenburg and Potsdam. The extent is upwards of 200 acres, the surface perfectly flat, and the soil a loose barren sand. It was not to be expected that art could effect much with such a subject; but nevertheless, by planting the commoner sorts of deciduous trees, and by the aid of Scotch pines and Norway firs as evergreens, the surface has been covered with wood, moisture retained in the soil, and an annual manure obtained from the dropping of the leaves. Here, then, is a foundation laid, not only for sheltering and nourishing the finer sorts of trees and shrubs, but for the production of turf, without which no park deserves the name. Accordingly, this has been done to a certain extent; and there is no want of rural coffee-houses, and other places of enjoyment. We do not, however, agree with Bramsen in his opinion that the Thier Garten is one of the finest public gardens in Europe. The park and gardens of Magdeburg will be described at length hereinafter.
