668 Remarks on laying out Cemeteries. 



scene. Another reason why the walks should be straight is, that 

 the ground can be used more economically. Every grave or 

 tomb may be considered as either a parallelogram or a square ; 

 and there must always be a loss of space in disposing of rectan- 

 gular figures within a curvilinear figure. Where there is abun- 

 dance of ground, however, this waste would be no objection, but 

 rather an advantage ; because the trees might be planted in the 

 waste places : still we think straight lines desirable for almost every 

 thing connected with a cemetery, as harmonising better with the 

 solemnity of the scene. In short, our opinion decidedly is, that 

 cemeteries and churchyards ought to be laid out in the geome- 

 trical style. 



The situations where the trees ought to be planted in a ceme- 

 tery is the next consideration. In general, we think a row along 

 each side of the walks and close to them the best mode. So 

 placed, the roots of the trees can never be disturbed on at least 

 one side, by which means they can never be materially injured 

 by the opening of graves ; neither will they occasion any waste 

 of ground by this arrangement. The kinds of trees ought to be 

 such as readily form, by pruning, a clean erect stem, for at least 

 8 ft. or loft, in height; because a branchy tree clothed from the 

 ground upwards, in such a situation, would encroach on the 

 walks, and also on the ground to be occupied with graves. An- 

 other disadvantage of tree§ clothed from the ground upwards 

 would be, their liability to stagnate the air, and render the place 

 unhealthy. For the same reason, we think shrubs cannot gene- 

 rally be introduced in cemeteries ; unless perhaps, as in Munich, 

 and in other parts of Germany, as a plantation round the margin 

 of the ground. 



Where ground is abundant, a cemetery might be laid out like 

 a kitchen-garden, with rectangular walks and compartments ; the 

 walks having borders of shrubs and flowers, backed by a holly 

 hedge, with standard low trees at regular distances ; and the in- 

 terior, which would be concealed from the walks, might alone be 

 used as a place of burial. But, though this has actually been 

 done in some places on the Continent, we cannot consider it in 

 good taste. There must be a sentiment appropriate to a ceme- 

 tery ; and though that sentiment is not inconsistent with the 

 appearance of trees, shrubs, and flowers, yet it appears to us to 

 be totally so with the same studied display of them which is 

 made in a kitchen or flower garden. Neither do we think it in 

 good taste to lay out and plant a cemetery exactly as a botanic 

 garden should be laid out and planted ; for this also is to con- 

 found things that are different. In general, nothing should be 

 done that will interfere with the idea of solemnity and consecra- 

 tion to the dead ; unless it be wished that the idea of a cemetery 



