2 THE GLORY OF THE GARDEN 



Almond, Medlar, and Quince. Also Lettuce, Cu- 

 cumber, Melons, Onions, Leeks, and Garlic galore. 



In the hot, dry climate of Palestine, watering 

 was an indispensable operation, and so reservoirs 

 for irrigating the land had always to be provided. 

 In ancient Persia and Assyria, gardens were fashioned 

 and maintained on a very large scale near all the 

 large cities. 



The famous Hanging Gardens of Babylon were the 

 great wonder of all the world. They consisted 

 of twenty plateaux rising one above the other, and 

 resting on walls 22 feet in thickness, and each 

 planted with trees, or other vegetation, kept in 

 constant growth by artificial watering. 



In Egypt also the gardens were very elaborately 

 fashioned, much sculpture and masonry entering 

 into their formation; and in these gardens they grew 

 many kinds of fruit, all of which had to be constantly 

 watered by means of irrigation from the Nile. 



The Greeks were very famous gardeners, and they 

 seem to have taken special delight in having fine 

 expanses of beautifully-kept grass; fruit trees were 

 much cultivated, and the favourite flowers would 

 seem to have been Roses, Lilies, and Narcissi. 



The Romans were most keen gardeners^ and grew 

 many of the popular vegetables of the present 

 day with great success. Also, they understood 

 fully the art of manuring and forcing, and they 

 may be said to have brought horticulture and 

 agriculture to their highest perfection at that period 

 of the world's history. 



So far as our own country is concerned, there 

 can be little doubt that we owe the early intro- 

 duction of horticulture to the Romans. 



