200 
THE FLORIST AND POMOLOGIST. 
[ September, 
St. James’s and the Green Parks, which are divided only by about 100 yards 
of iron fencing, are together not more than 118 acres in extent. There are some 
fine old trees in both, but these are not to be compared with those in Kensington 
Gardens and Hyde Park. 
Victoria Park, with an area of about 290 acres, was purchased with the money 
paid by the Duke of Sutherland to the Government for Stafford House, £72,000. 
The designs and planting are varied and excellent, and there is here a display of 
flowers equal to anything seen in and about London. When the spring and 
summer flowers have passed away, the Chrysanthemum, queen of autumn, 
survives, and during the dull days of November thousands are attracted by the 
exhibition of this flower in the Victoria Park. There are ornamental sheets of 
water, islands, rustic bridges, and shady banks. Choice trees and shrubs abound, 
though they are yet but young, and the flower borders and margins to the 
clumps of shrubs are well stocked with hardy herbaceous plants, bulbs, and 
annuals. Greenwich Park, which is under the same management, is well stocked 
with beautiful trees, and is much resorted to. 
Battersea Park occupies 200 acres, of what was formerly known as Battersea 
fields. The site was originally flat and low, and in order to produce a picturesque 
effect mounds have been raised and hollows formed, with glades and gentle slopes, 
and a fine assortment of trees and shrubs has been planted. Battersea is, how¬ 
ever, most famous for its subtropical garden, which extends over several acres, 
so disposed as to present a natural and picturesque effect. The ornamental grasses 
are much cultivated here, chiefly by the margins of the fine piece of water; and 
another striking feature of this park is the bold and well-designed rockwork. 
The Eegent’s Park covers about 470 acres, and is one of the most important 
of the London Parks. The centre is an open green plain, almost free from trees, 
but it is surrounded by trees and shrubs, and comprises a fine piece of orna¬ 
mental water, with islands and weeping trees. On the east side, is a very 
tasteful Italian garden, divided into two parts by a telling avenue of horse- 
chestnuts. In this garden are many fine yuccas, which are permanent in 
character, being ornamental in winter as well as in summer. Rhododendrons, 
too, here, as elsewhere, bid defiance to the Lcndcn smoke, and only need to be 
properly treated at the roots to yield a fine display. Lombardy Poplars are 
here introduced with good effect, in single file, beside the straight lines of walk. 
This park is well furnished with flowers. 
Of all these, and the more distant royal gardens of Hampton Court and Kew, 
and the more private one of the Crystal Palace Co., Mr. Cole gives a tolerably 
full description ; while the remaining chapters of the book are devoted to the 
‘ Effective Arrangement of Spring Flowers,’ ‘ Hardy Evergreens and Flowering 
Trees and Shrubs in London Parks and Gardens,’ ‘ Trees in the London Parks 
and .Gardens,’ ‘ The Arrangement of Colours,’ ‘Designs for Flower and Carpet 
Bedding on Grass.’ These chapters contain brief notes and cultural hints on a 
selection of Ihe best plants of various character for planting in London gardens, 
