ON CHINESE GARDENS. 277 



supply their places ; so that there is a constant succession, for al- 

 most every month in the year ; and the flowers are never seen,'but 

 in the height of their beauty. 



Amongst the most interesting parts of the Chinese plantations, 

 are their open groves ; for as they spend much of their time there, 

 care is taken to situate them as pleasantly as possible, and to 

 adorn them with all kinds of natural beauties. 



The ground on which they are planted, is commonly uneven, yet 

 not rugged : either on a plain, raised into many gentle swellings ; 

 on the easy declivity of a mountain, commanding rich prospects - 

 or in vales, surrounded with woods, and watered with springs and 

 rivulets. Those which are in an open exposure, are generally 

 bordered with flowery meadows, extensive corn-fields, or large 

 lakes; the Chinese Artists observing, that the brilliancy and gaiety 

 of the objects, forma pleasing contrast with the gloom of the 

 grove; and when they are confined in thickets, or close woods, 

 the plantations are so contrived that, from every approach, some 

 part of the grove is hid ; which opens gradually to the eye of the 

 passenger, satisfies his curiosity by degrees. 



Some of these groves are composed of evergreens, chiefly of 

 pyramidal form, thinly planted over the surface, with flowering 

 shrubs scattered amongst them : others consist of lofty spreading 

 trees, whose foliage affords a shady retreat during the heat of the 

 day. The plants are never crowded together ; sufficient room 

 being left between them for sitting or walking upon the grass • 

 which, by its shady situation, retains a constant verdure; and, in 

 the spring, is adorned with a great variety of early flowers, such 

 as violets, crocus's, polyanthus' primroses, hyacinths, cowslips, 

 snow-drops, daffodils and daisies. Some trees of the grove are 

 suffered to branch out from the very bottom of the stem upwards • 

 others, for the sake of variety, have their stems bare ; but far the 

 greater number are surrounded with rose-trees, sweet-briar, honey 

 suckles, scarlet beans, nasturtiums, everlasting and sweet-scented 

 peas, double blossomed briar, and other odoriferous shrubs, which 

 beautify the barren parts of the plant, and perfume the air. 



Sometimes too their open groves are composed of lemon, orange 

 citron pompelmose, and myrtle-trees ; which, as the climate varies 

 either grow in the earth, or in buried tubs and pots, that are re- 

 moved to greenhouses during the winter. They also have groves 

 of all sorts of fine formed fruit-trees ; which, when they blossom 

 or when their fruit is ripe are exceedingly beautiful : and to add to 



