SOUTH LONDON PARKS 169 
rise, the rest prudently and pleasantly divided into an 
upper and lower kitchen-garden ; a fruitful bit of 
orchard, and chance inlets and outlets of wood walk, 
opening to the sunny path by the field, which was 
gladdened on its other side in springtime by flushes of 
almond and double peach blossom.” Such might have 
been the description of the houses and grounds now 
turned into a park. Some of the lines of the villa 
gardens have been retained, and some wise and necessary 
additions and changes have been made to bring the whole 
together; but even the inspiration of Ruskin has not 
kept out the inevitable edges and backbones of uninterest¬ 
ing evergreens. Some of the green-houses have been kept, 
but six dwellings have been demolished, and one of the 
two retained will be used as a refreshment room. The 
outside wall of the garden front of one, covered with 
wistaria, has been left, facing its own little terrace and lawn 
and cedars, and soon after the opening, in February 1907, 
many people found it was possible to get sun and shelter 
and enjoy the prospect from the seats in front of the 
ruined drawing-room windows. The dividing wall of 
two houses has been cleverly turned into what will be a 
charming pergola, and below, the ground has been levelled 
to form a bowling-green. The terraces and steps from 
one level to another are a pleasing feature in the design. 
The ground is not yet finished, and it is greatly to be 
hoped that the usual clumps of evergreens will not be 
multiplied, but Ruskin’s description borne in mind, and 
let there be almonds and double peaches to gladden the 
spring, and not drooping, smutty evergreens, or “ever 
blacks,” as they might be more fittingly called, to jar on 
the picture of fresh young growth. The pond, a stiff 
oval, has had to have the necessary iron railings, and the 
