March  23,  18!)3. 
JOUliNAL  OF  'UbLiTlGtlLTUnE  and  Wfi'AOD  OARDD'EtDR. 
241 
LONDON  GARDENS  OVER  EIETV  YEARS., 
No.  r>. 
Amoncjbt  the  events  associated  witli  the  Diamond  Jubilee  of  our 
beloved  and  honoured  Queen  was  llio  formation  of  a  committee, 
composed  of  members  of  the  Qommons  Preservation  Society,  the 
Kyrlo  Society,  and  the  Metropolitan  Public  Dardens  Association,  by 
which  a  letter  was  addressed  to  all  town  and  district  Couneils,  also  to 
a  number  of  landowners.  The  object  of  this  was  to  induce  the  setting 
apart  in  every  locality  a  plot  of  ground,  to  be  called  the  “  (^,ueen 
Victoria  ”  park,  garden,  playground,  or  field,  as  it  might  be,  such  open 
space  to  be  dedicated  to  the  free  use  of  young  and  old. 
Alieady  the  appeal  is  bearing  fruit,  and,  in  the  vicinity  of  the 
densely  populated  districts  of  London  it  is  particularly  important  that 
still  further  jirovision  bo  made  of  public  gardens — a  portion  devoted  to 
the  sports  of  the  young  in  some  cases,  but  chiefly  planted  with  shrubs 
or  trees,  and  made  bright  by  flower  beds.  As  such  gardens,  small 
and  large,  multiply,  there  is  no  doubt  they  will  tend  to  promote  a  love 
for  flowers,  and  encourage  gardening  pursuits,  especially  aiOongst  the 
class  whi(;h  needs  to  bo  drawn  from  low  and  mischievous  pleasures. 
Some  of  the  smaller  plots  about  London  surprise  us  Viy  their  display 
through  the  greater  jiart  of  the  year,  but  of  course  they  cannot  afford 
room  for  many  shrubs,  the  beds  being  kept  well  filled  with  plants 
having  attractive  foliage  or  showy  flowers.  So  groat  is  the  po]iularity 
of  some  gardens  now  opened  in  Ijondoti  suburbs,  that  the  gardeners 
find  it  impossible  to  work  satisfactorily  during  the  hours  when  the 
public  are  admitted. 
London  horticulture  is  already  greatly  indebted  to  the  exertions 
and  influence  of  the  Metropolitan  I'lildic  tJardens  Association  just 
mentioned,  and  next  century,  wo  may  hope,  will  evidence  grander 
results  still  should  its  income  enlarge.  At  [iresent  its  funds  are 
inaderjuate  to  its  opportunities;  but  ifio  money  expended  rejiresents 
only  a  part  of  the  useful  work  done  by  this  Society,  of  which  the  Karl 
of  I  Meath  was  the  chief  originator  in  1HH2.  Previous  to  that,  the 
Kyrle  Society  and  the  National  Health  Society  had  Vreen  actively 
engaged  in  the  work  of  acriuiring  and  laying  out  various  o[ien  spaces 
amid  a  crowded  population,  mostly  neglected  churchyards,  where 
interments  had  been  stopped  after  Even  then  there  was  a 
danger  lest  these  should  fie  built  over,  or  converted  into  yards  for 
business  j)ur[)08es,  and  an  Act  of  I'arliament  had  to  he  obtained 
securing  them  from  desecration.  It  was  felt  by  Lord  Meath  and 
others  that  a  society  formed  for  the  special  jjiirpose  of  increasing 
public  gardens  throughout  London  liad  an  ample  field  before  it,  and 
when  it  reached  its  semi-jubilee  the  society  could  show  a  gooil  record. 
Above  a  hundred  gardens  and  recreation  grmmds  had  been  laid  out, 
or  purchased,  fry  the  Association,  and  by  its  agency  many  hundreds  of 
trees  had  been  idanted.  Amongst  tfie  larger  enteriirises  on  whif;h  it 
has  recently  been  co-ojierating  with  ctlier  Ixidies  is  the  preservation 
intact  of  Qhelsea  I'fiysic  Darden  and  <4  Alexandra  I’ark,  also  tfie 
acrpiisition  of  Dolders  flreen  arul  Dollis  Hill,  besides  a  liuc!  si  ace  ujion 
the  fiank  of  the  'I'harnes  at  Wandsworth. 
The  Metroiiolitan  Public  Dardens  Association  made  no  great 
display  at-  its  commencement,  beginning  u[)on  churchyards,  small 
neglected  s(|uares,  and  otlier  spices  which  could  be  secured  by  a 
moderate  outlay,  then  put  in  order  cheaply.  Enterprises  which  look 
little  fjosides  such  schemes  of  the  liondon  Dounty  Council  as  the 
purchase  and  laying  out  of  Itavenscourt  I’ark  for  £b2,000,  and  Lrock- 
well  Paik  for  11122,000,  yet  many  a  space  of  but  an  acre  or  two, 
jierhaps  less,  made  free  to  all,  and  planted  as  a  garden,  is  an  o/isis  in 
the  desert  of  crowded  houses  and  narrow  streets  to  the  sick  or  aged, 
and  often  to  the  weary  toiler  also.  One  difficulty  with  reference  to 
some  churchyards  has  been  that,  an  o|)posilion  being  made  to  the 
removal  of  certain  tombstiuies,  they  could  ordy  be  partially  converted 
into  gardens,  ’I'hen  Ifiere  are  churchyards  ojicn  to  the  i)ublic,  several 
of  good  8I/-C,  which  have  not  had  their  graves  interfered  with  at  all,  still 
th(!y  furnish  plactts  for  a  stroll  amid  slirults,  trees,  an<l  some  Hcattrued 
idants  of  a  varied  nature.  An  examjile  farniliar  to  West  Londoners 
is  the  ground  in  f’ayswater  Head  belonging  to  St.  Deorge’s,  which  is 
nearly  0  acres  in  extent.  'I'he  smaller  ground  belonging  to  the 
Vestry  of  that  [larish,  in  Mount  Street,  is  very  tastefully  laid  out. 
In  two  or  three  instances  the  jieople  living  around  a  London  garderj 
are  so  rough  that  it  is  impossible  to  {(reserve  flowers  or  shridis  from 
damage,  but  generally  even  the  irrejiressible  cockney  urchin  understtinds 
that  he  must  keep  his  lingers  off  the  plants.  I  cannot  say  fiow  it 
might  be  if  there  were  fruit  to  be  got  at.  'I'here,  I  admit,  is  an 
objection  to  a  projrosal  of  mine-,  that  for  the  sake  of  variety  some  fruit 
trees  should  be  planted  in  our  metropolitan  open  sjaices.  Due  of  tfie 
ancient  City  churches,  according  to  tradition,  stood  in  a  grove  of 
Apples,  and  in  our  time  ‘he  Charterhouse  Purial  Dround  had  several 
magnificent  wall  fruit  trees.  Put  the  only  fruit  we  are  likely  to 
discover  about  most  old  churchyards  is  the  Elderberry,  this  tree  being 
often  set  formerly  as  a  sacred  [dant  j(ossesseil  of  many  virtues. 
We  have  referred  to  five  liOndon  churchyards,  which  ought  bo  said 
to  have  occupied  the  [(osition  of  {(ioneer  gardens,  when  it  was  being  , 
impressed  mion  the  ptrblic  mind  that  even  a  small  op-cn  fliiaco  could  ho- 
made  a  pleasant  resoit,  if  not  given  up  to  cats,  sjiarrows,  and  all  sorts 
of  refuse.  Within  the  central  j)art  of  London,  the  churchyards  iiow 
0{(en  are  not  chiefly  frequented  by  tho  poor,  but  give  a  rest  or  refresh¬ 
ment  to  the  busy  (Jity  clerk  and  the  warehouse  worker.  Very  cheerful 
some  of  thesi!  plots  appear  in  springtinie  through  the  judicious  planting 
of  bulbs  and  tubers.  A  choice  nook  is  the  little  garden  of  I'enjamin 
Street,  near  Farringdon  Uf)ad,  but  a  ((uarter  acre,  mice  the  ground  of 
St.  John’s,  and  after  it  was  closed  for  burials  it  fell  into  the  hands  ot 
a  builder,  who  covered  it  wilh  workshops.  Happily  it  was  rescued, 
the  sfmro  cleared  in  1881,  and  since  it  has  tieeii  WelHcept.  Ibiring  fine; 
summer  days,  crowded  is  the  so-called  “  jiostman’s  park,’  the  old 
churchyard  of  St-.  Ilotolph’s,  Aldersgate,  enlarged  of  late  by  the  acejuisi- 
tion  of  two  other  grounds  afiiitling.  About  the  same  dirnensions  are 
the  valuable  spaces  of  St.  Olave’s,  Silver  Street,  and  Allhallovys, 
London  Wall,  and  that  of  St.  Dunstans’  in  the  East,  blol  Lane,  wliich 
has  some  old  trees  in  a  flourishing  condition.  Obviously,  when  such 
grounds  have  tlie  flower  beds  jiartly  shadeii  by  trees,  it  is  only  certain 
[(lants  that  will  thrive,  and  sowing  annuals  is  apt  to  lx;  unorofitable. 
Amongst  other  novelties,  in  some  ((f  these  gardens  is  a  columbarium  or 
pigeon  house,  as  its  occupants  furnish  ainusement  to  children,  hut  I 
({uery  whether  jdgoons  ever  {(rove  good  gardeners. 
Dccupying  the  {(Osition  it  dees  in  a  much  frequented  part  of  the 
Dity,  St.  I’aul’s  Dhiirchyard  lias  daily  its  thousands  ((f  visit((r8;  the 
extent  is  about  2  acres,  hut  it  is  not  at  all  garden.  Not  a  had  spot  to 
take  a  hasiy  lunch,  wilh  the  Dathedral  close  V)y  to  retreat  into  lor  a 
cool  contrast  in  summer.  'I’ho  City  is  not  a  [dace  ot  squares,  we  go 
westward  or  n((rthward  to  find  these  ;  yet  some  tliero  are  of  old  Uate, 
which  havcj  now  V(een  iiii{(roved  and  with  other  odd  Hcra{(a  of  land 
changed  into  gardens.  1  luring  the  eigliteentli  century  several  of  these 
squares  were  not  even  encl((Ked  with  po.sts,  and  laid  in  a  waste  con¬ 
dition  ;  two  or  tliree  are  said  to  have  f(een  small  nurseries,  su{([dyingp 
seeds  and  {dants  to  tlie  well-poidilated  streets  adjacent.  Out  anudigst 
the  suburbs,  too,  it  was  not  unusual  for  a  nursery,  which  had  occu|(ied 
acres,  to  shrink  finally  into  the  centre  of  a  square,  and  then  diBa{)i)ear. 
We  have  an  example  in  Ehury  Eiiuare,  J’imlico,  which,  after  sundry 
vicissitudes,  is  still  ke{(t  as  a  [luldic  garden.  Close  to  tlie  old  Smithlield 
Market,  iu  fiong  Lane,  wo  come  upon  a  clear  H{(ace  of  hut  a  rood,  and  a 
similar  {(l((t  near  I'rooke’s  Market,  Holh((rn,  has  been  rescued  Irom  the 
builder.  I’oth  are  now  laid  ((ut  as  gardens,  with  fount-dns,  and  are  a 
great  boon  to  a  {(oor  nr!ighf(ourhood.  Northam{(ton  Square,  (dorken- 
well,  an  o{(en  ground  which  was  a  leafy  Huri(rise  to  the  l[y-{(asser  who 
came  n{(  to  it  lr((m  one  ((f  the  radiating  streets,  has  been  {(uhlic  since 
I88r(,  over  111 000  being  s[)ent  in  laying  out  this  and  Wilmington  Sipiaie 
near,  once  a  nursery  wlicre  Auriculas  and  I’olyanthusos  attracted  North 
Londoners. 
Since  the  spring  of  1 888  the  d’ower  Dardens,  2  acres  in  extent, 
have  l)ecn  made  a  free  resort,  the  grcdind  being  admirably  laid  out. 
I’revious  to  that  date  the  name  “garden”  would  have  been  a  mis¬ 
nomer,  for  the  H](ace  was  iu  a  very  nejl'-cted  condition.  1  ho  valuafdo 
acfiuisitiou  by  the  London  Dounty  fjouricil  ot  liincolus  liiu  I'lohl.s 
with  its  7  acres  ended  a  struggle  which  had  been  going  on  for  many 
years  to  secure  this  area,  lor  ttic  jdihlic  benefit.  Someone  has  described 
the  ama/-ement  shown  by  tlie  children  of  tlie  locality  on  l(oing  allowed 
to  enter  the  precincts,  which  they  had  olten  looked  at  through  the 
railings.  ’I’liero  are  some  good  trees,  and  the  ['round  still  retains  tlie 
im|(res8  ((f  tlie  style  of  gardening  {xqdilar  in  De((rgiaii  times,  for  the 
legal  gentlemen  who  managed  it  formerly  did  not  modernise  mucli. 
Doing  north  or  east  of  the  Dity  we  come  n{)on  m my  cluirchyards. 
several  rather  exten-ive,  which  some  twenty  pears  ago  looked  do'eful 
indeed,  tdit  are  now  hetiltlifiil  and  {(h-asant  gardens.  St.  Dim- 
, Stan’s,  Stepney,  has  nearly  7  acres,  and  was  oiiened  in  1887  by  the 
Duchess  of  liCcds.  It  dis{(layH  a  variety  of  trees  and  shrubs,  hesides- 
ll((werH.  d'he  eliurchyard  <jt  St.  .John  at  Hackney  is  ()  acres  ;  hut 
only  {lart  is  garden,  the  rest  grtiss.  All  Saints’,  I'oidar,  is  about  hall 
that  size.  It  was  opened  by  laidy  Ileay  in  ISIJ-'i,  and  is  well  kc{(t. 
Of  similar  extent  is  St.  Anne’s,  Lirnehouse,  also  o[iened  twelvo 
yiars  ago  by  the  Dountess  of  Strafford,  and  wldch  is  greatly  appre¬ 
ciated.  "^Almost  attaining  to  tlie  dimensions  of  a  little  park  is  llio 
S{(ac')  calli (i  Meath  (iardcns,  of  II  acres,  and  Victoria  I’ark  Demetery, 
o[(encd  by  tjiC  poke  of  York  in  18iH.  Lethnal  Dreen  Dardens,  of 
(}  acres,  was  only  secured  to  the  itdial(ilants  after  a  long  and  ardimiis 
struggle.  Its  flowers  iu  summer  have  thousatids  ol  visitors. 
J.  1!.  S.  D. 
Ehy'i'ii uf(Nn/'M;s  anu  Di(H(Noi(<(XAS  r.v  f’lci'.s.  —  It  wfiuld  1(0 
difficult  to  say  wl[ich  of  tlie  two  mentioned  plantn  ought  to  bo  held  m  fho 
highest  estecin  for  pot  culture,  lioth  arc  so  adiniruhly  a(la[(t(-d  to  ttiis 
I[urr(0>.o  to  ho  used  as  front-row  [.lants  as  to  necessitate  their  l(eing  grown 
by  anyone  possessing  a  small  tiouse,  wliilsl  (or  larger  (iis[(layH  tln-y  cannot 
be  overlooked,  'I'lie  grumlillorum  type  of  lOrythroniurn  (lons-canis  has 
lino  flowers  and  foliage.  Not  only  are  the  flowers  (piaint  and  pleasing, 
but  the  foliage  also  is  handsome.  The  shadoof  blue  of  the  (Jiuniodoxa  is 
sufficient  claim  for  its  inclusion  also.  — It.  i*.  It. 
