402 Principles of Landscape- Gardening 



tion of sealing up is effectually performed) to the grave-digger and the 

 public. 



We object to the system of laying out a cemetery in imaginary squares, for 

 various reasons : it does not allow of an obvious order and arrangement of the 

 graves ; it does not admit of walking among them on a continuous path ; it 

 affords a very unsatisfactory mode of registration, since it depends on the 

 accuracy of the mapping of the graves in the map book ; it renders it next to 

 impossible for the relations of the deceased to find out the grave without the 

 aid of some person connected with the cemetery, unless the grave has a 

 monument ; it prevents an efficient system of grass paths from being formed ; 

 and it totally prevents the establishment of a permanent system of surface 

 drainage by having the drains under the paths. It will not be denied, we 

 think, that in all the London cemeteries there is an appearance of confusion 

 in the placing of the graves and monuments ; there is no obvious principle of 

 order or arrangement ; no apparent reason, except in the case of graves 

 placed along the margins of the walks, why monuments should be situated 

 where they are, rather than any where else ; the greater part of them seem 

 to be put down at random ; and, in the crowded parts of the cemeteries, the 

 time is fast advancing, when, as in the Pere la Chaise Cemetery, no monu- 

 ment will be approachable, but by scrambling through between a number of 

 other monuments. In our opinion all the cemeteries require reformation in 

 this particular without a day's delay. 



As the greater number of the London cemeteries are on a retentive clayey 

 soil, a system of surface drainage is absolutely necessary to allow the grass 

 to be walked on with comfort during the greater number of days in the year : 

 but we pronounce it to be impossible to execute a system of surface drainage 

 which shall be permanent, where the imaginary square system is adopted ; 

 because, in the carrying out of that system, every drain is liable to be inter- 

 rupted by a grave either made or to be made. 



The system o\' laying out the roads is objectionable in some of the ceme- 

 teries; because it is not continuous, but interrupted by branches claiming to 

 be equally important with the main road. The purposes for which a road is 

 made are, to allow of using, and also of displaying, the country, estate, or 

 scenery, which it passes through ; and hence in every country residence, 

 garden, and cemetery, there ought to be one master road, by going along 

 which the whole residence, garden, or cemetery, might be surveyed, without 

 the attention being drawn off by side or branch roads of equal breadth and 

 importance with the main road. The whole of some of the London ceme- 

 teries could not be seen without going over a considerable part of the roads 

 twice, a circumstance which, with reference to use, is attended with loss of 

 time, and, in regajrd to effect, with diminished force of expression. In some 

 the main road, even when conducted near a straight wall, is made to ser- 

 pentine in a manner which, being unaccounted for either by natural or arti- 

 ficial obstacles, such as inequalities of surface or trees, is quite ridiculous. 



There ought not to be a road or a walk in any cemetery, the direction of 

 which is not accounted for, by the boimdary fence, the inequalities of the 

 surface of the ground, by cemetery buildings or tombs, or by the disposition 

 of trees and shrubs. 



In all the cemeteries there is a great want of gravel walks, which always 

 afford fine opportunities for borders of graves, with intervening trees or 

 shrubs. (See the plan fig. 90.) 



The planting of all the cemeteries is, in our opinion, highly objectionable, 

 for various reasons already given. It is too nuich in the style of a common 

 pleasure-ground, both in regard to the disposition of the trees and shrubs, 

 and the kinds planted. Belts and clumps can never be required in a ceme- 

 tery either for shelter or shade ; because nothing is so desirable as to have a 

 free current of air, and admit the drying influence of the sun ; and because 

 it is impracticable to form graves in clumps and belts. By scattering the trees 

 and shrubs singly, graves may be everywhere formed among them ; and, by 

 placing trees continuously along the roads and walks, shade is afforded to 



