SOUTH LONDON PARKS 169 



rise, the rest prudently and pleasantly divided into an 

 upper and lower kitchen - garden ; a fruitful bit of 

 orchard, and chance inlets and outlets of wood walk, 

 opening to the sunny path by the field, which was 

 gladdened on its other side in springtime by flushes of 

 almond and double peach blossom." Such might have 

 been the description of the houses and grounds now 

 turned into a park. Some of the lines of the villa 

 gardens have been retained, and some wise and necessary 

 additions and changes have been made to bring the whole 

 together; but even the inspiration of Ruskin has not 

 kept out the inevitable edges and backbones of uninterest- 

 ing evergreens. Some of the green-houses have been kept, 

 but six dwellings have been demolished, and one of the 

 two retained will be used as a refreshment room. The 

 outside wall of the garden front of one, covered with 

 wistaria, has been left, facing its own little terrace and lawn 

 and cedars, and soon after the opening, in February 1907, 

 many people found it was possible to get sun and shelter 

 and enjoy the prospect from the seats in front of the 

 ruined drawing-room windows. The dividing wall of 

 two houses has been cleverly turned into what will be a 

 charming pergola, and below, the ground has been levelled 

 to form a bowling-green. The terraces and steps from 

 one level to another are a pleasing feature in the design. 

 The ground is not yet finished, and it is greatly to be 

 hoped that the usual clumps of evergreens will not be 

 multiplied, but Ruskin s description borne in mind, and 

 let there be almonds and double peaches to gladden the 

 spring, and not drooping, smutty evergreens, or "ever 

 blacks," as they might be more fittingly called, to jar on 

 the picture of fresh young growth. The pond, a stiff 

 oval, has had to have the necessary iron railings, and the 



