PRIVATE GARDENS 335 



is most artistically arranged and is a good illustration of 

 how much can be made of a small space. A large ever- 

 green oak overhangs the basin with a stone margin and 

 splashing fountain, on which water-lilies gracefully float. 

 The variety and harmony of the whole garden, with its 

 paths shaded by fig-trees, apples and pears, cherries and 

 lilacs, sunny borders with Scotch roses, Day lilies, fox- 

 gloves, and iris, and formal fountains, all in a small space, 

 yet not crowded, and bright with flowers, is delightful. 

 Another small garden in Kensington — tended by Lady 

 Bergne — of quite another type, contains nearly all the 

 flowers that have been mentioned as growing well in 

 London. It is only the stereotyped long narrow strip 

 at the back of the house ; but by putting a path and 

 rock-work and pools of water on one side, and having 

 grass and flower borders on the other, backed by flower- 

 ing shrubs and ferns at the shaded end, a great variety 

 of plants have been grown successfully. 



In most London gardens very little enterprise is 

 shown. The old system of bedding out is adhered to. 

 Of the large London houses standing by their own 

 lawns, none have gardens of any horticultural interest. 

 Montagu House is on the site of the extensive Igardens 

 of Whitehall, and the present lawn is where the bowl- 

 ing green, with its gay throng of players, lay in former 

 years, and the terrace keeps up the tradition of the wide 

 terraces that descended from the palace to the green. 

 The turf is still fair and green, and is brightened in 

 summer by lines of geraniums, white daisies, and 

 calceolarias. Devonshire House garden, on the site 

 of the famous one belonging to Berkeley House that 

 covered all the present Square, is in the same way 

 merely planted with the usual summer bedding plants. 



