Arnold Arboretum

The Arnold Arboretum, oldest in the world, was established from a bequest of James Arnold which was received by the University in 1872. Called "America's greatest garden" some 6,000 different species and varieties of trees and shrubs flourish on its 265-acre tract in Jamaica Plain.

Besides having the most complete horticultural and botanical collection in America, and doubling as a park and illicit picnic ground for Boston residents, the Arboretum has contributed to many "practical" projects. During the war its directors developed natural camouflage techniques and wrote a handbook for the Army on emergency food plants of the South Pacific.