46 LONDON PARKS & GARDENS 



people's route, passing quietly down to the Strand and 

 through the City. 



The occasion of the Reform Bill riot in 1831, when 

 the windows were smashed in Apsley House, is well 

 known, and from 1855 to 1866 Hyde Park witnessed 

 many turbulent demonstrations. The first occasion was 

 in July 1855 against Lord Robert Grosvenor's " Sunday 

 Trading Bill," when some 150,000 people assembled, 

 and various scenes of disturbance took place. More or 

 less serious riots were of frequent occurrence, until they 

 culminated in the Reform League riot in July 1866, 

 when the railings between Marble Arch and Grosvenor 

 Gate " were entirely demolished, and the flower-beds 

 were ruined." The flower-beds had not been long in 

 existence when they were wantonly damaged by the mob. 

 The idea of introducing flowers into the Park began 

 about i860, and the long rows of beds between Stanhope 

 Gate and Marble Arch were made about that time, when 

 Mr. Cowper Temple was First Commissioner of Works. 

 They were made when " bedding out " was at the height 

 of its fashion, when the one idea was to have large, glaring 

 patches of bright flowers as dazzling as possible, or minute 

 and intricate patterns carried out in carpet bedding. Now 

 this plan has been considerably modified. The process of 

 alteration has been slow, and the diff^erences in some cases 

 subtle, but the old stiffiiess and crudeness has been 

 banished for ever. The harmony of colours, and variety 

 of plants used, are the principal features in the present 

 bedding out. It seems right that the Royal Parks 

 should lead the way in originality and beauty, and 

 undoubted success is frequently achieved, although 

 even the style of to-day has its opponents. The chief- 

 objection from the more practical gardeners is the 



