SOCIETY OF CENTRAL ILLINOIS. 195 



ceriainly during his time the arts of peace in England, as well as 

 the arts of war outside, prospered. His gardens became famous for 

 their time, and apparently deserved the name bestowed upon them — 

 Nonsuch. 



In the commodious kitchen garden there were seventy-two fruit 

 trees. We are not informed what these were, but that the royal 

 plantations possessed so many is a sign of the times. Round about 

 this plantation was a solid stone wall fourteen feet high — another 

 sign of the condition of things three hundred and fifty years ago. 

 In the ornamental portions of the grounds there were many columns 

 and pyramids of marble, two fountains that spout water, one round 

 and the other like a pyramid, upon which are perched small birds 

 that stream water out of their bills. There is, besides, another pyra- 

 mid of marble, full of concealed nipes, which spirt water upon all 

 who come within reach.'' One of the fountains was "set around 

 with six lilac trees," and these are the only trees mentioned here, 

 though there were parks and shady walks elsewhere. 



After this time onward one hundred and fifty years the royal 

 gardens were laid out in mazes and labyrinths, with concealed pipes 

 by means of which visitors might find themselves lost one minute, 

 and deluged with water at the next." We may say that professional 

 gardening began later than this, and probably we shall not be too 

 exacting if we name the time of the Restoration as the low beginning 

 of this art. Certainly a comparison of the works undertaken during 

 the reign of Charles II, stimulated by the Le Notre's achievements 

 for Lonis XIV at Versailles, with those of any public grounds now 

 does not leave much opportunity for enthusiasm upon the beauties 

 of the historical pictures. Geometrical figures, clipped trees, of 

 which Bacon, ahead of his time, spoke contemptuously as "images 

 cut out of juniper and other garden stuff," heavy stone walls and 

 iron gateways and railings, high terraces and brilliantly painted lat- 

 tice work, together with labyrinths and grotesque surprises in the 

 way of water-spouts operated by concealed springs — these and such 

 as these characterize the taste of those days. 



At length the criticisms of Bacon, aided by the gorgeous imagery 

 of Milton in his description of the celestial paradise, and the ridicule 

 of Addison and Pope, culminated in drawing fresh attention to mat- 

 ters of landscape gardening, and thus opened the way for what we 

 now know as the natural style. A few men became celebrated as 

 specialists and artists, and many others profited by their examples. 

 The great estates were laid out and cared for with increasing atten- 

 tion and ability. Much more interest was taken in orchard fruits 

 and garden products. Glass-houses were erected — the first in 1717 

 — for the growth of tender plants, and men began to learn garden- 

 ing as a professional occupation. Since that time England has done 

 much for horticulture in every line. Thomas Andrew Kuight, the 

 first President of the Royal Society, was enthusiastic as an experi- 



