354 Principles of Landscape-Gardening 



already been given in Divisions II. and III. as belonging to the subject of 

 cemeteries generally. 



Report on the Design for a Cemetery pi'oposed to be formed at Cambridge : 

 made, by Order of the Directors, by J. C. Loudon. 



[Referring to Plans and Sections, Nos. 1. to 15.] 



The Ground purchased by the Cambridge Cemetery Company was, by the 

 desire of the directors, inspected by us on Nov. 8. 1842. It lies in an open 

 airy situation, in the neighbourhood of the town. The extent is 3i acres, 

 and the tenure freehold. The surface is flat, with a gentle inclination to one 

 end, from which there is a tolerably good drainage, by means of a public 

 drain along the margin of the New Huntingdon Road, to the river. The soil 

 is a compact blue clay ; its present state is in broad high ridges, which have 

 recently borne corn crops, and the soil is therefore favourable for vegetation 

 to the depth of 8 or 9 inches. The ground is enclosed on three sides by a 

 recently planted thorn hedge, and the fourth, or north, side is open to a field 

 of similar surface and soil. 



The Object of the Cemetery Company is to form a cemetery chiefly for the 

 middle class of society, the total expense of which, including the purchase of 

 the land, shall not exceed 2000/. ; that being the sum raised by the Company 

 in 200 shares of 10/. each. The sum paid for the land being 400/., there 

 remain 1600/. for building and arranging the ground. 



The duties of the reporter, therefore, are to show the directors, by plans, 

 specifications, and estimates, how the ground may be arranged, and the ne- 

 cessary buildings erected, for the sum of 1600/.; to suggest rules and regu- 

 lations for the use and management of the cemetery ; to point out the duties 

 of the curator ; and to offer any other suggestions to the directors that may 

 occur to him. 



The Principles which have been borne in mind by the reporter, in comply- 

 ing with the desire of the directors, are as follows : 



That, to prevent all risk of desecration or indecency, the arrangements be 

 such as that no part of a coffin, or of its contents, can ever be again exposed 

 after interment, and, in particular, that no human bone can ever be disturbed. 

 That, the cemetery being intended for all sects and parties indiscriminately, 

 consecration by any one party would be improper. That a lodge for the 

 curator, and a shed and yard adjoining and connected with it, for his imple- 

 ments, planks, barrows, &c., are essential. That a chapel, for all who may 

 choose to make use of it, is also essential. That the frontage, and a portion 

 of the ground along the Histon Road, be not included in the plan in the first 

 instance, in case the cemetery should not succeed ; but that the general plan 

 be so contrived that the frontage may be added afterwards, without deranging 

 the cemetery part of the original design. That, the general outline of the 

 ground being rectiUnear, and the surface nearly level, the interior walks, 

 borders, and beds, should be chiefly rectilinear and level also, as well for the 

 sake of harmony of forms and lines, as for economy of space. That, in order 

 to throw the whole into an agreeable shape, and form a reserve ground 

 [e, in the plan fig. 81. p. 357.] for soil, bricks, and other materials produced 

 or required in digging graves, building vaults, &c., the walk and hedge at one 

 end should be formed within the outer fence. That, as moisture in a 

 moderate degree contributes to the decomposition of animal matter, while in 

 excess, in a strong clayey soil, it changes muscular fibre into adipocere, and 

 also because there is a prejudice against burying in a very wet soil, it is 

 desirable that the ground be drained; but that, as there is not a sufficient 

 outlet for deep drainage so as to carry off" the water from the bottom of 

 brick graves or vaults, it is desirable that the surface of the ground should be 

 so arranged as to carry off" as much as possible of the rain water falling on it. 

 That, to contribute to the dryness of the surface, and also because it has been 

 ascertained that the gases from decaying bodies will rise to the surface from 



