182 THE PARKS AND GARDENS OF PARIS. [Chap. XII. 



have the memorials of one's friends disturbed for the ill-digested 

 schemes of a jobbing gardener is bad enough; but when it is 

 considered that this sacrilege is performed to plant subjects that 

 have no chance of thriving, then the wisdom of the change is fully 

 seen. It is true the sculpture of these stones in our cemeteries is 

 anything but Greek, but the rudest tell of love and death " where 

 human harvests grow," and to all but vulgar minds must be 

 sacred. What, then, must be the feelings of those who have had 

 the memorials they cherish disturbed for such a purpose ? And it is 

 the more inexcusable when we reflect that there is not the least 

 occasion for any mutilation of the kind, and that the most 

 suitable trees for such places are those that would not require 

 any alteration of the ground, and would flourish freely in a town- 

 atmosphere. The weeping Willow, Birch, Ash, weeping Elm, 

 and a considerable variety of drooping and other deciduous trees, 

 are especially suited for this purpose, and might be planted 

 without interfering with the stones in any way. Would the 

 latter look any the worse for being shaded by a beautiful 

 pendulous tree here and there ? The fact is, town-cemeteries 

 may be made as beautiful as it is possible to make them with 

 vegetation, by the use of deciduous trees and shrubs and a few 

 well- tried evergreens. Instead of any clearance or levelling being 

 required for 'the judicious placing of these, they will look all the 

 better for being picturesquely grouped among the tombstones and 

 other irregularities of the surface. When new gardens are made 

 in connection with a new church, it matters not of course how the 

 ground is moved, but it would, be a great advantage if the 

 churchwarden-mind could get rid of the idea that before making 

 a garden in a graveyard it is necessary to level the space and 

 make it like any commonplace bit of ground. Instead of pursuing 

 such a course they should procure advice from some intelligent 

 landscape-gardener, and say to him, " Embellish the spot without 

 destroying its memorials or associations." If it must be levelled, 

 mutilated, and planted with a few formal beds and shrubberies, 

 confide its execution to a navvy. In such graveyard-gardens much 

 short-lived flower-gardening should be avoided in consequence 

 of the ceaseless care it requires, and the attention should be 

 confined to the hardy and permanent ornaments suitable for such 

 a spot. 



