The sun., 1893-07-23
LoNpows RoYAL pLEAsURE eARpEns
How They Arc observation-disclosures. orr,-
dees with Large Salaries nsd Hare
worked Keeperr rt Gut Rates

dees with Large Salaries a.a Hare.
worked Keepers at Gut Rates.
LONDON. July 12.-The gardens. hothouses.
ana dconservatories OF Windsor, Osborne. Ball
moral, Sandringham. and other royal and
princely residences wero ransack cd to provide
the wealth OF bloom and foliage that decorate
ed ST. James's ana Buckingham palaces and
Marlborough House during the fttes and rec
ceptions at the wedding OF the Duke and
Duchess OF York Nothing could be brighter
and more cheerful than the bravo outward
show: the sun shone as 1t rarely docs in Eng
land. flowers scented the air. gay bunting
nuitere6 In tho summer heat, unprecedented
crowds had gathered to hail the young couple
and greet them with deafening cheers and
loyal homage. and II a shadow lui ked as some
aver, under all this brlllancy ii was hidden
out OF sight most cfrcctually.
Tho newly welded pair have had the FORTH
tudc to spend their short honeymoon on the
spot where eighteen months ago the brother
OF tho one. the afflanced husband OF
the other. met with his untmely death. and
II they did SO from sense OF tho duty owed to
the tenantry OF tho Prince Of Wales at Sand
ringham IL is to be hoped that no disturbing
memories Of that time OF m burning vii! haunt
and disturb them.
Tho flowers on the trumphal arches have
dropped and died, tho towerln. palms have
been carried away. the streets have resumed
their everyday aspect. and London. filled to
orerfowng few days ago. is emptying fast.
The Upper Ten HE away to Goodwood. re-
naming only for the national feast OF tho Eton
and Harrow match ut Lords: the humber
contingent departs for the sultry seaside
places or the cooler resorts OF the country
sidc: but vast number OF the immense pop
ulatlon stay and dorive their only glenm Of
beauty and romance from the leafy walks and
botanical perfection OF the parks and gardens,
which are now, as through every succeeding
season. at their very hest
All that concerns those royal enclosures is
done SO we'll. so regularly. and so perfectly
that 1t almost seems to be the unaided and
spontaneous work OF bountiful nature. instead
OF being the result OF much forethought and
Intelligent care. under rules and regulations
long since established. Tho whole Is mans
aged rs II by an occult and mysterious agency.
for 1t is very rarely that one sees moving
machine making the lawns velvety. q spade
turning UP the beds. or a pruning knife lop-"
ping dtsorderly branches: yet the parks are
visited daily by thousands Of people. to whom
they are thing OF JOY. and during the season
by the most fastdious OF the upper classes.
who ride and drive and show of their hand
some dresses and handsomer horses and car.
riages under the shady avenues. ~
All the royal parks and gardens are nom-
inally under the supervision OF a special de-
partmont Of the administration. The Govern
ment nominates certain functionaries hearing q
the ancient name OF Hangers" although
their duties are no longer the old one OF walk
ing about the forests collecting stray animals :
and taking notes for the appearance Of ponch.
ing and other offenders at the next sessions.
The Hangers arc still supposed to act as over
secrs controlling the management OF the
properties. enncting bylaws. and seeing to the
observance thereof. But tho gardening proper
of the parks and gardens devolves upon the
care OF tho Onlce OF Works. which ura responsi-
bic for Regents Park. Hyde Park. Kensington'
Gardens. the Green Park st. Jamess Park.
Parliament Square. and the Speakers Garden.
Nearly 800 men are employed on this work all
the year round. Regents Park has special
superintendent and staff OF men all to itself:
the others arc under another supsrin-
tendent and staT Each Of the chief
has under him one or more fore.
men and under foi emen.
In Regents Park the gardeners are indo.
pendent OF outside supplies. They SOW. grow.
and rear all the plants they require for the
many beds that make the precincts SO heauti-'
full for many months OF the year The princi-
pal nursery for the other parks and gardens 10
nt kensington Gardens.
1t Is necessary for the general good effect to
have all the beds filed and ready ut the same
time. and all unseemly manual labor has to be
Put out OF sight before the general public
takes possession Of the premises. To achieve
this the Government gardeners begin work ut
8 A. NJ and leave of only ut 5:45 T. NJ Their
actual day Of labor Is virtually longer still
Tor as the majority OF them cannot afford
10 live in the more expensive quarters
whero their vocations lie. thcy come from
ong distances. and have to rise ut n quar-
Ter to four to be on the spot in time. This
fatigue is sorry preparation for n hard
Jays work. They are allowed half an hour
or breakfast and an hour for dinner. SO TINT
'or sleep and recreation they cannot reckon
IN moro than eight hours out OF the twenty
'our. The peculiar hardship. however. for the
men is that tho Government does not allow
hem the same salary as private individuals
zive. The ordinary pay for gardeners 10 four
,hilings and siypence day.
The regulations that govern them are very
strict and In some cases quito out OF date.
They are submitted to useless and vexatious
lnnoyances. Thus In the middle OF the winter.
when daylight Is tardy In coming and 10 fur
hep delayed by the heavy fogs. they cannot
possibly see to begin work before eight
'r SO. and yet they are bound to DO
present at six and have to lounge
u
couple Of hours doing nothing. This might
,asly be remedied even without curtaiing the
wages. Again they are supposed to have
lRlf holiday on Saturdays. As 4 matter OF fact
york is stopped three and half hours
,arlisr than on other days. but owing to .
umsy and thouChtless arrangement the pay
rR OF the weekly wages Is protracted till
learly 4 O'Clock. robbing them Of their pre-
ous time OF rest and freedom. On Sunday
morning contingent OF men have to be on
luty to gather up betimes the rtray papers.
range peels. and other offal which mark tho T.
passage on the previous afternoons OF .
Holiday crowd OF vsiora The Once Of
Works is never at loss to find
ar 1eners. notwithstanding the restrictions
nd disadvantages they have to oontond with.
ecause the men are certain OF constant em-
loyment. and not dependent on the yicissi-
udes OF off seasons, as they would be under
,rivnte employers
Twice n year all the beds are thoroughly