78 MEMOIR OF ALFRED SMEE. [CHAP. VIII. 



manner as to be offensive to the eye, and from the upper windows of the 

 houses present a comical appearance, as in its general effect the garden, 

 besides a general bad design, is divided into two unequal and unsymmetrical 

 portions. 



A rare opportunity for the improvement of the garden has been lost, 

 which is much to be regretted, as the error cannot now to any great extent 

 be rectified. 



The grass-plot is not level, which will be detrimental to the game of 

 croquet, for which lawns are used in many of the other London square- 

 gardens. 



The garden as a whole, excepting the trees and grass, which always 

 have an agreeable appearance, is little more than a dreary waste, which 

 has been arranged in effect, if not in intention, to require the minimum of 

 labour. Should the inhabitants think fit, the gardens may be kept up in 

 their present condition by a labourer employed on an average one or two 

 days a week, as there is really no occupation for a gardener. In bygone 

 years there used to be abundance of flowers, and the atmosphere of the 

 City is better now than it was at that time. 



As Finsbury Circus possesses a scientific institution, with its Professor 

 of Botany, there is no reason why the garden should not be rendered 

 instructive as well as ornamental, and there is now a good opportunity for 

 this to be done, as our accomplished Treasurer is well versed in botanical 

 knowledge. Such a plan will only require the vigilance of a competent 

 gardener, as, from the influence of many of the inhabitants, the plants 

 could be obtained gratuitously for an educational object, and the natural 

 families of plants might be illustrated by interesting growing plants. 



By raising the character of the garden, order and decorum can be 

 more rigidly maintained than it has been of late years. 



It was particularly desired that the playground should be so enclosed 

 by a sufficiently raised border that it should not be seen by the factory 

 boys who frequent the road, who are apt to throw stones : this has been 

 neglected. The interior of the playground has been lined by a wall of 

 loose brickbats, which is actually a source of danger to the children, as its 

 materials are well known to be liable to move and crush the limbs or bodies 

 of children, who will and now do climb to the top of it. This rough wall 

 should be immediately removed, to prevent destruction of limb or life, and 

 perhaps legal liability to the inhabitants. 



In the rough manner in which the swings, &c., are used by full-grown 

 men and women, some serious accident may, and in all probability will, 

 arise ; to prevent which the gardener ought to exercise a supervision at 

 those times when the playground is frequented by children, and be held 

 responsible for a proper use of the apparatus. 



The earth which has been selected for the flower-beds is perhaps the 

 very worst which could have been obtained from any source. It is the old 

 moor earth of the ancient Moorfields, and contains the leaves of moor 

 plants and the shells of water snails. At the present time it is utterly 

 unfit for horticultural purposes, and can only be made so by much 

 expense and skill. 



The few recently-planted trees, which are important for the general 

 effect, should at once be taken up and replanted in topspit fibrous soil, such 

 as has been used for the trees on the Thames Embankment. 



