PRIVATE GARDENS 
335 
is most artistically arranged and is a good illustration of 
how much can be made of a small space. A large ever¬ 
green oak overhangs the basin with a stone margin and 
splashing fountain, on which water-lilies gracefully float. 
The variety and harmony of the whole garden, with its 
paths shaded by fig-trees, apples and pears, cherries and 
lilacs, sunny borders with Scotch roses, Day lilies, fox¬ 
gloves, and iris, and formal fountains, all in a small space, 
yet not crowded, and bright with flowers, is delightful. 
Another small garden in Kensington—-tended by Lady 
Bergne—of quite another type, contains nearly all the 
flowers that have been mentioned as growing well in 
London. It is only the stereotyped long narrow strip 
at the back of the house; but by putting a path and 
rock-work and pools of water on one side, and having 
grass and flower borders on the other, backed by flower¬ 
ing shrubs and ferns at the shaded end, a great variety 
of plants have been grown successfully. 
In most London gardens very little enterprise is 
shown. The old system of bedding out is adhered to. 
Of the large London houses standing by their own 
lawns, none have gardens of any horticultural interest. 
Montagu House is on the site of the extensive (gardens 
of Whitehall, and the present lawn is where the bowl¬ 
ing green, with its gay throng of players, lay in former 
years, and the terrace keeps up the tradition of the wide 
terraces that descended from the palace to the green. 
The turf is still fair and green, and is brightened in 
summer by lines of geraniums, white daisies, and 
calceolarias. Devonshire House garden, on the site 
of the famous one belonging to Berkeley House that 
covered all the present Square, is in the same way 
merely planted with the usual summer bedding plants. 
