KENSINGTON PALACE 89 



(which includes the Round Pond), passes close to the north 

 side of the new sunk garden. Above the boundary wall on 

 this side, lime trees, trained so as to leave ' peep-holes ' for 

 inspection of the garden within, are growing. Round the 

 other three sides there is a gravel walk, under a tunnel or 

 bower of limes, in the inner wall of which also there are 

 little ' windows ' left. In the garden, terraces adorned with 

 countless brilliant flowers, and divided from each other by 

 turfed walks and very low brick walls, descend in easy gradation 

 to a stone pavement. In the middle of this there is a long, 

 narrow water tank, which is planted with many aquatics : 

 lilies, sedges and the like. And raised above the water on 

 stone pedestals are three fine antique cisterns of lead, in which 

 little fountains play. On the water's verge, square stone 

 boxes, or vases, in which grow showy semi-aquatic plants 

 such as agapanthus, are placed at intervals. From each of the 

 four gates paved slopes lead down to the broad pavement 

 surrounding the pond. The methods of horticulture adopted 

 here are excellent, and from early spring to late autumn a 

 constant succession of most beautiful flowers can be seen. 

 To stand in the cool shadow of the leafy tunnel and look 

 through one of its windows on to the gorgeous display of sunlit 

 flowers within, is to enjoy a pleasure which it would be difficult 

 to exaggerate. 



Strikingly handsome iron gates have, within the last few 

 years, been placed at the palace end of the central avenue. 

 And in addition to all the work of constructing and furnish- 

 ing the new sunk garden, and of laying out the ground on its 

 north side, much is now in progress behind the charming old 

 Orangery. According to Rocque's plan there was once a 

 large piece of garden to the north-west of the palace. Most 

 of this has passed into other hands, and houses — known as 

 Kensington Palace Gardens — have been built. But a new 

 drive, from Bayswater Hill on Oxford Road, is now being 

 made, and trees to form an avenue are being planted. 



A small part of the old gardens adjoining the palace on 

 south and east has all along been retained for the privacy and 



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