CHURCH GARDENS AXD CEMETERIES. 



107 



■when vre 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 gi'ound^ and Tvould flourish freely in a town atmosphere. 

 The weeping willow, birch, ash, weeping elm, and a con- 

 siderable variety of drooping and other deciduous trees, are 

 above all others 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 ceme- 

 teries 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 ; and instead of 

 any clearance or levelling being required for the judicious 

 placing of these, they will look all the better for being 

 pictui-esquely grouped among the tombstones and other 

 irregularities of the surface. When new gardens are made 

 in connexion with a new church it matters not of course 

 how the ground is moved, but it would be a great advan- 

 tage 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 procui'e a 

 few pounds' worth of advice from a respectable landscape 

 gardener acquainted with the subject, and say to him, 

 " Embellish the spot without destroying its memorials or 

 associations.-'^ If you want it levelled, mutilated, and planted 

 with a few formal beds and shrubberies confide its execution 

 to an intelligent navvy. In such graveyard gardens much 

 temporary flower work should be avoided in consequence of 

 the ceaseless care it requires, and all attention should be paid 

 to the hardy and permanent ornaments fit for such a place. 

 Among these are happily found numerous graceful and 

 weeping subjects so suitable for cemeteries. 



Our suburban cemeteries are often gardens, pleasantly 

 green, and abounding with trees, weeping and otherwise ; 

 while Id the country churchyard where — 



" Scattered oft, the earliest of the year, 

 By hands unseen are showers of violets found," 



