Chap. VIH.] SQUARES, PLACES, ETC. 123 



a wooden fowl-house to a bathing-machine. Yet this is what is 

 done in the majority of the " best " London squares. The eye 

 is thus fixed on the contemptible objects in the centre, an agree- 

 able spread of turf is made impossible, and the beauty of the trees 

 or shrubs cannot be felt. It is unwise to desire uniformity in 

 any art, but one principle deserves being engraved on the mind 

 of every person who has the care of squares, which is that the 

 best way to obtain an excellent effect is by keeping the centre 

 open and grassy, untortured by walks, hedges, or beds. 



The gardening in our squares is of a peculiarly lugubrious 

 description, and of a style quite apart. Hardy subjects are not 

 made a study of, and the bedding plants with which the country 

 is ablaze in many parts are rarely seen. Year after year the 

 same tone of slimy melancholy 

 is assiduously preserved. The 

 trees crowd upon each other, 

 and even those that tower above 

 all, and assert their dignity in 

 spite of neglect, are not seen to 

 advantage. Any flowers planted 

 usually soon perish in the dismal 

 shade. 



The walks, generally designed 

 so as to cut through and destroy the prettiest spots in the square, 

 appear to receive most attention, but it is sometimes shared by 

 the ugly, high, and elaborate seats piled round the bases of the 

 beautiful trees so as to cut short the effect of their stems as seen 

 across the lawn. All the necessary seats, as well as tool-houses 

 and arbours, should be placed near or towards the sides, where 

 they would be useful without being obtrusive. It is quite easy 

 to so place such objectionable features that while convenient for 

 shade and comfort, they shall not be objectionable from any 

 point of view. 



The best feature of the London squares is their trees. In the 

 West-Central districts are frequently seen Planes which would 

 command admiration in their native forests. Huddled together, 

 at first, with a number of miscellaneous trees, they, thanks to 

 their constitutions and stature, now tower above the masses of 

 overcrowded shrubs around them, and spread forth their boughs 



structure in centre of a London Square. 



