124 LONDON PARKS & GARDENS 



view all the year round. The chrysanthemum time is one 

 specially looked forward to in the East End districts. 

 Iron railings and paths, of course, are the inevitable 

 beginnings in the creation of a park, and more or less 

 ambitious gates. It is only in the larger ones, such as 

 Finsbury, Victoria, Dulwich, and Battersea, that carriages 

 are anticipated. Though there is a drive through Brock- 

 well, and the steep hill in Waterlow might be climbed, 

 and the avenue in Ravenscourt is wide enough, it is 

 evidently only foot passengers who are expected, as a 

 rule. Fancy ducks and geese attract the small children 

 on all the ponds, and some parks have enclosures for 

 deer or other animals. Sand gardens, or " seasides" for 

 children to dig in, are also frequently included. 



The larger parks are self-contained — that is to 

 say, the bedding out and all the plants necessary 

 for the flower-gardens are reared on the premises. 

 There is a frame-ground with greenhouses attached, 

 where the stock is kept and propagated. Of course, 

 much depends on the soil and locality. In some parks 

 the things will stand the winter much better than in 

 others, where fog and smoke and damp work deadly 

 havoc. 



A great deal is now done with simple, hardy flowers, 

 which give just as good an effect as more elaborate and 

 expensive bedding. Roses in the show beds will do well 

 for two or even three years ; with a few annuals between 

 they make charming effects. In Finsbury Park, the dark 

 red roses with Canterbury bells, and fuchsias with a 

 ground of alyssum, were effective and simple. In some 

 parks the spring plants will thrive all through the winter. 

 Beds of white Arabis with pink tulips between ; forget-me- 

 nots with white tulips ; mixed collections of auriculas, 



