138 



Horticulture was now borne vigorously forward in this country ; 

 nor was it here alone that it was fostered, and gathered strength. 

 We had previously received an impulse in this Art from Hol- 

 land ; we had surpassed our teacher, and we now strove for the 

 pre-eminence with France, who certainly had been also in a great 

 measure our Tutor. Louis the XIV. at this'time domineered 

 over France. His vanity and ambition however conferred this 

 benefit upon his coimtry, and thence to such nations as had 

 intercourse with it, that in ministering to the gratification of 

 those passions, he became a munificent patron of the Arts and 

 Sciences. Horticulture participated in the general encourage- 

 ment. His father had commenced on a diminutive plan, the 

 Trianon, but Louis the XIV. ordered the creation of the stu- 

 pendous and splendid Gardens of Versailles, Marli, and Fon- 

 tainbleau. Partaking of the spirit of the monarch, 'the nobles 

 and wealthy members of the community aimed at distinction 

 by the display of Horticultural taste. Among these, the Gar- 

 dens of St. Cloud, belonging to the Duke of Orleans, were par- 

 ticularly to be distinguished. The best scholars of the country 

 united in lauding the prevailing taste, and the praises of 

 Horticulture resound in the verses of Rapin and Boileati. 

 Quintinie was the prince of French Horticulturists; as Le 

 Notre was of their Garden Designers. 



William the HI. (1G89 — 1702; we shall see introduced the 

 Dutch style of laying out Gardens. He delighted in blanched 

 Vegetables, and it was by his instrumentality that forcing Aspa- 

 ragus was introduced here, being previously unknown.* Mary 

 his Queen delighted in the practice of Gardening more than he 

 did. She superintended in person all improvements made dur- 

 ing her life. She was particularly fond ofExoticks, and allowed 

 Dr. Plukenet two hundred pounds annually for assisting her in 

 collecting and cultivating them. Her fondness for Gardening 

 is mentioned by Dr. Tillotson in her funeral sermon. f 



• Switzer's Piactical Kitchen Gardener, p. 173. t Icnograpliia Ru»- 

 tica, V. i. p. 77. 



