214 THE MAGAZINE OF HORTICULTURE. 



Kensington Gardens ; the division of the water being effected 

 by a stone bridge, having an iron railing along its centre, the 

 bridge accommodating both the park and gardens. Aronnd 

 the park is a broad drive, parallel with the boundary, from 

 which all but private carriages are excluded ; another drive 

 develops the interior, running the north side of the Serpen- 

 tine. These drives are much used, but do not contain a par- 

 ticle of grace and beauty. The walks are numerous, and are 

 generally in right lines, intersecting each other at all sorts of 

 angles. On the south side of the Serpentine is a road known 

 as Rotten-row, where the fine gravel is always allowed to re- 

 main loose, so that horses can gallop over it without the least 

 danger of falling. 



This park is a favorite resort of the higher circles, at all 

 seasons, but especially from April to July, and between the 

 hours of five and seven, P. M. It is said to have been thus 

 fashionable for drives and promenades during Charles II. 's 

 reign. It is also said that in the year 1550 the French am- 

 bassador hunted with the king in Hyde Park, which was 

 well stocked with game, and kept as a royal enclosure. 



The reason of this park being such a favorite resort for 

 the Londoners of all classes, undoubtedly arises from the fact 

 of its being such a large, high, and open piece of land, where 

 the air has a free circulation, unobstructed by trees or other 

 objects ; forming, as they term it, one of the lungs of London. 

 That I may not be considered as doing injustice to this park, 

 I would mention that there are two or three plantations of 

 small, half-starved maples along the north side, that look as 

 though they had been planted by some nurseryman at so 

 much per dozen, as they are arranged regardless of effect in 

 grouping. 



I would also mention that the gate-keepers' lodges each 

 have a small portion of land occupied by dingy, miserable- 

 looking shrubs and flowers, which are the only ones to be 

 found in the whole park. A narrow belt of meagre, half- 

 starved trees, from twenty to fifty feet high, mostly planes, 

 elms and oaks, skirts along the north side. The division be- 

 tween Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens is a ha-ha of large 



