158 LONDON PARKS & GARDENS 



and the execution of it completed by Mr, Farrow. 

 The chief features, are the artificial water (for the 

 most part supplied by the Thames), and the avenue 

 of elms which traverses the Park from east to west, 

 and cross walks, with a band-stand and drinking- 

 fountain at the converging points. Round the Park 

 runs a carriage drive, and, following a different line, 

 a track for riders — with the usual spaces for games 

 between. The trees arc growing up well, so already 

 any bareness has disappeared. The absolute flatness, 

 which makes the open spaces uninteresting, is relieved 

 by the avenue, which will some day be a fine one. 



It is an object-lesson to show the advantage of 

 avenues and shady walks, too often ignored by modern 

 park designers, or only carried out in a feeble, half- 

 hearted way. The chief variation in Battersea Park 

 was achieved by John Gibson, the Park Superintendent, 

 who made the sub-tropical garden in 1864. His ex- 

 perience, gained on a botanical mission to India, which 

 he undertook for the Duke of Devonshire, well fitted 

 him tor the task. This garden has always been kept 

 up and added to, and specially improved in the Seven- 

 ties, while the present Lord Redesdale was at the 

 Office of Works. 



A sub-tropical garden was quite a novelty when 

 first started here, and caused much interest to horti- 

 culturalists and landscape gardeners. The "Sub-tropical 

 Garden," by W. Robinson, and other writings on the 

 subject, have since made the effects which can be pro- 

 duced familiar to all gardeners; but in 1864 to group 

 hardy plants of a tropical appearance, such as aralias, 

 acanthus, eulalias, bamboos, or fan palms, was a new 

 idea. During the summer, cannas, tobacco, various 



