2G4 On Modern Improvements of Horticulture, 



were an appendage of the palaces of their princes, and other 

 great men, for personal solace and gratification ; but how far 

 the art was systeipatized, either in knowledge or practice, history 

 is silent. Throughout the Assyrian, Babylonian, Persian, and 

 Macedonian empires, we learn but little more than that orna- 

 mental gardening was carried to an extravagant height in their 

 artificial formation ; insomuch that one of the Babylonian princes 

 built what were called ** hanging gardens," that is, a vast and 

 lofty pyramidal structure on arches, arcades with terraces 

 surmounted by other arcades, and carried up in gradations to 

 a great height. The terraces being planted with the choicest 

 trees, presented to the distant spectator a verdant hill of foliage 

 in the midst of a large city, and lifted the sovereign proprietor 

 far above the noise and intrusive notice of his vassals below ; at 

 the same time, yielding him all the sweets, seclusion, and quiet 

 of the country, even in the purlieu of his palace ! The idea of 

 such an ornamented and elevated structure for a mighty sove- 

 reign was certainly sublime, and far surpassing all that has 

 been yet done (though it has been suggested by Mr. Loudon) 

 in the western world ; and though only a monument of wealth 

 and personal pride, prompted by conjugal regard, and entirely 

 artificial, was certainly proper for the place where it -stood, 

 worthy of the prince who erected, and the extensive empire to 

 which it belonged. 



Throughout a long-following period, and up to the time of 

 the Romans, we learn nothing particular respecting gardens, 

 only, that among the Jews, they had gardens for herbs, vine- 

 yards, and even gardens for cucumbers : but as frequent allu- 

 sions are made to them, it is probable that gardening had then 

 become a distinct calling, as we find it was among the Romans, 

 as soon as their extensive conquests were secured. 



As the arts and arms of the Romans went together, no 

 doubt a very wide circulation of all that was known of garden- 

 ing in Italy, was transferred thence. Their writers on rural 

 affairs preferred agri to /ior^zculture ; but their sound know- 

 ledge of the former shews no inconsiderable share of acquain- 

 tance with the principles of the latter ; and as their practice, 

 as well as the seeds of their products, would be introduced 

 wherever the climate permitted, it is more than probable they 



