288 Hints for the Improvement of 



150 ft., and the narrowest part above 50 ft. The plants are 

 planted in alphabetical order, each with its name attached ; and 

 they are distributed irregularly at proper distances, the intervals 

 being planted with common laurel. The situation is completely 

 sheltered, and slightly shaded; and the soil cool, soft, and moist. 

 The plants have been planted with the greatest care, and the 

 entire surface of the plantation is thickly mulched with rotten 

 leaves. In short, no American shrubs could be placed in more 

 favourable circumstances, with respect to growth. The names, 

 however, of nineteen twentieths of the plants are necessarily too 

 far from the eye to be read, and consequently the public will 

 not benefit so much as they ought to do from the plants being 

 named; and the laurels are not only useless, but as injurious 

 to the plants as so many noxious weeds. The named plants do 

 not require more shade and shelter than the situation affords 

 naturally ; and the laurels can only serve to deprive them of 

 nourishment, and to give a general sameness of character to the 

 plantation. We hardly expected to see such an example of 

 obsolete practice in these Gardens ; though we recollect the 

 Scotch firs planted in the new plantation in Hyde Park, and the 

 Black Italian poplars which still continue among the Lebanon 

 and Deodar cedars in the Green Park. Every one of these 

 laurels, in our opinion, ought to be immediately removed ; or, 

 to save appearances, they might stand till autumn, and then 

 be quietly taken away, as the Scotch firs Avere some years 

 since. 



With respect to the named shrubs, very great praise is due 

 to the Earl of Lincoln for having introduced labels into the Gar- 

 dens ; but, in order that the public may profit from these shrubs 

 being named, they would require to be distributed in such a 

 manner as to bring each species and its name near the eye. 

 We have suggested the idea of placing them in small square 

 and circular beds round the central basin opposite the east front 

 of Kensington Palace, as shown in fig. 70. ; in which the beds 

 next the water are proposed to be planted with low shrubs, not 

 allowed to rise above 4 ft. high ; and the outer row with herba- 

 ceous plants, each bed being limited to one order or tribe. All 

 the shrubs in the plantations e e, in fig. 68., would not be in- 

 cluded in these beds, because a number of them would grow 

 too high ; but almost all the Ericaceae (including the numerous 

 kinds of rhododendrons, azaleas, kalmias, vacciniums, and 

 heaths), with the daphnes, mahonias, &c., which have been 

 planted, would be perfectly suitable, and would produce a 

 splendid effect, not only by themselves, but by their reflection 

 in the water, more especially when in flower. 



The larger-growing shrubs we would dispose of partly in the 

 plantations on the south and north side of the gardens, and 



