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attention to the beauties of nature, and I for its numerous superb edifices, exten- 

 a passion for experimental and orna- sive prospects, and the systematical 

 mental planting was induced, wliich j arrangement of the pleasure grounds, 

 lias been productive of great results. ! than for the improvements and decora- 

 Mineralogy enables us to obtain ac- i tions of the surrounding scenery, in 

 curate knowledge of terrestrial sub- | accordance with those principles which 

 stances, and the mode of distinguishing are derived from a close observance 

 the divers kinds of earths, which con- ! of the pleasing effects of nature. The 

 stitute a cultivable soil ; and chemistry j rural residences of the Romans appear 

 instructs us as to the nature and pro- ^ to have been mere places of temporary 

 perties of these various earths, having | retreat, and were planted with odorife- 

 for its objects, when applied to horti- | rous flowers and shrubs and ornamented 

 culture, ail those changes in the ar- | rather by the civil architect than the 

 rangements of matter, which are con- [ horticultural artist. From the estab- 

 nected with the growth and nourishment ; lishment of the papal government to 

 of plants, the comparative value of, the commencement of the 13th centu- 

 their produce as food, the constitution ' ry, the monks were the only class of 

 of soils, the manner in which lands are , persons who attended to ornamental 

 enriched by manure, or rendered fertile [ gardening. After that period, the style 

 by the different processes of cultivation. : prevalent throughout Europe consisted 

 Inquiries of such a nature cannot but in tall hedges, square parterres fiintas 



be interesting and important, both to 

 the theoretical horticulturist and the 

 practical gardener. To the first they 

 are necessary in applying most of the 

 fundamental principles on which the 

 theory of the art depends. To the se- 



ticaliy planted, straight walks, and rows 

 of trees uniformly placed and pruned. 

 In fact, but little improvement was 

 made from the time of the emperors^ 

 Vespasian and Titus until the reign of 

 George III. of England. It is true, 



cond they are useful in affording simple I Hampton Court had been laid out by 

 and easy experiments for directing his i Cardinal Wolsey; Le Notre had plant- 

 labours, and for enabling him to pursue I ed Greenwich and St. James's Park 

 a certain and systematic plan of im- ! during the reign of Charles II. ; and, in 

 provement. To hydraulics belong, not , that of George II., Queen Caroline had 

 only the conducting and raising of water enlarged Kensington Gardens, and form- 

 with the construction of pumps and other i ed the Serpentine river; but Lord Ba- 

 engines for those purposes, but the laws | thurst was the first who deviated from 

 which explain the nature of springs i straight lines, as applied to ornamental 

 and fountains. By the principles of j pieces of water, by following the natu- 

 that science, artificial lakes, canals and I ral courses of a valley. Still, what has 

 aqueducts are formed, irrigations pro- j been emphatically called the Dufc/i sys- 

 jected, and water rendered subservient ' /em universally prevailed, and the shear 



to the useful purposes of life, as well 

 as to the embellishments of pleasure- 

 grounds by jets d'eau, cascades and 

 streams. Architecture, as a branch of 

 horticulture, is of the first importance. 

 Without its aid, it would be impossible 

 to give that propriety and elegance to 



ing of yew, box and holly into formal 

 figures of various kinds, and the shaving 

 of river banks into regular slopes, went 

 on until their absurdity became con- 

 temptible, and a better and more natural 

 taste was induced. Verdant sculpture, 

 regular precision in the distribution of 



the scenery, and to produce that pleas- compartments and rectangular boundary 

 ing effect, which is the chief object of walls, yielded to more chaste designs, 

 landscape gardening. Mechanics, in all j Bridgenian succeeded to Loudon (not the 

 its branches, is required for the purposes distinguished author) and Wise, and be- 

 of horticulture. Great improvements ] came a distinguished artist; he rejected 

 have been effected in gardening within ! many of the absurd notions of his pre- 

 the last half century. During the age decessors, and enlarged the bounds of 

 of Cicero, a formal kind of gardening horticulture. Other innovators depart- 

 prevailed, characterized by clipped ed from the rigid rules of symmetry ; 

 hedges and long avenues of trees. ; but it was reserved for Kent to realize 

 Pliny the Younger has given an account i the beautiful descriptions of the poets, 

 of his villa at Laurentum, and from the and carry the ideas of Milton, Pope, 

 description, it was rather distinguished 1 Addison and Mason more extensively 



