148 Principles of Landscape- Gardening 



in the immediate neighbourhood, by which all the brick and stone work would 

 be done by contract. 



On the introduction of trees and shrubs into cemeteries very much of their 

 ornamental effect is dependent ; but too many trees and shrubs impede the 

 free circulation of the air and the drying effect of the sun, and therefore they 

 ought to be introduced in moderation. They ought not, as we think, to be 

 introduced in masses in the interior of the cemetery, nor in strips or belts 

 round its margin, unless under very particular circumstances. Every mode 

 of introducing trees and shrubs which is identical with that practised in 

 planting parks and pleasure-grounds is to be avoided, as tending to confound 

 the character and expression of scenes which are, or ought to be, essentially 

 distinct. Independently of the injury done by masses and belts in impeding the 

 free circulation of the air, they prevent the ground on which they stand from 

 being occupied by graves ; and though there may be no immediate occasion 

 for so occupying that ground, yet an arrangement which seems to be at 

 variance with, or at least to have no reference to, the purpose for which the 

 cemetery was formed is unsatisfactory. There is evidently not the same 

 objection to single trees or single shrubs ; because, in whatever manner they 

 may be placed, still, between and among them, graves may always be formed. 

 There is a specific objection against boundary belts, which is, that they 

 occupy a space that might be advantageously laid out as a broad border for 

 tombs of a superior description, with a gravel walk in front accompanied by 

 another border on the opposite side. For the same reasons that we would 

 not introduce trees and shrubs in masses, we would not, in the case of ceme- 

 teries on low or level ground, plant trees which produce bulky heads ; but 

 confine ourselves chiefly to kinds having narrow conical shapes, like the 

 cypress, the form of which not only produces little shelter or shade, but has 

 been associated with places of burial from time immemorial. Almost all the 

 kinds should be evergreen and of dark foliage; because the variety produced 

 by deciduous and flowering trees is not favourable to the expression either of 

 solemnity or grandeur. Evergreen needle-leaved trees, such as the pines, 

 firs, junipers, yews, &c., we should prefer ; because, when their foliage drops, 

 it produces much less litter than that of broad-leaved trees, such as the 

 holly, common laurel, evergreen oak, &c. On very hilly cemeteries we would 

 introduce round-headed trees along with conical shapes, but still chiefly 

 confining ourselves to evergreens, such as the ilex, Lucombe oak, holly, the 

 dark-foliaged pines, &c. 



Supposing all the roads, walks, and green paths laid out, or their situations 

 fixed on, and all the beds and borders also laid out, then we would dispose of 

 the trees and shrubs in tlie following manner. Along each side of most or 

 all of the main roads, whether straight or curved, we would plant a row of 

 trees parallel to the road, and at regular distances, so as to form a running 

 foreground to the interior of the compartments, and to whatever there might 

 be of distant scenery. The kinds should be pines and firs of dark foliage. 

 In roads and walks in the direction of east and west, we would either plant 

 the trees farther apart, or plant narrower-growing kinds, such as the common 

 cypress, the Irish yew, the Swedish juniper, the fastigiate arbor vitse, &c. 

 At many of the intersections of the squares, in those cemeteries where that 

 mode of division is adopted, we would plant provisionary trees, of a kind 

 strikingly different from every other planted in the cemetery, in order to 

 distinguish the angles of the squares at first sight, with the number-stone at 

 their base, to be taken up when it became practicable or desirable to sub- 

 stitute obelisks, square pillars, or other monuments, for them. Along the 

 centre of the beds adapted for double rows of graves we would plant trees or 

 shrubs at regular distances, with the intention that, in this and in all other 

 cases whatever, except along the main approach from the entrance to the 

 chapel, the trees should be taken up and replanted, or removed altogether, 

 when necessary, so as to suit the position of graves. 



With respect to the kinds of trees, we would, with very few exceptions. 



