90 LANDSCAPE GARDENING. 



gardeners of the old school.* The stately etiquette and 

 courtly precision of the manners of our English ancestors, 

 extended into their gardens, and were reflected back by the 

 very trees which lined their avenues, and the shrubs which 

 surrounded their houses. "Nonsuch, Theobalds, Green- 

 wich, Hampton Court, Hatfield, Moor-Park, Chatsworth, 

 Beaconfield, Cashiobury, Ham, and many another," says 

 William Howitt, " stood in all that stately formality which 

 Henry and Elizabeth admired ; and in which our Surreys, 

 Leicesters, Essexes, the splendid nobles of the Tudor 

 dynasty, the gay ladies and gallants of Charles II. 's court, 

 had walked and talked, — fluttering in glittering processions, 

 or flirting in green alleys and bowers of topiary work, and 

 amid figures, in lead or stone, fountains, cascades, — • 

 copper-trees dropping sudden showers on the astonished 

 passers under, stately terraces with gilded balustrades, and 

 curious quincunxes, obelisks, and pyramids ; — fitting objects 

 of admiration of those who walked in high heeled shoes, 

 ruffs, and fardingales, with fan in hand, or in trunk hose 

 and laced doublet." 



Symmetrical uniformity governed with despotic power 

 even the trees and foliage, in the ancient style. In the 

 more simple country residences, the plantations were 

 always arranged in some regular lines or geometrical 

 figures. Long parallel rows of trees were planted for 

 groves and avenues along the principal roads and walks. 

 The greatest care was taken to avoid any appearance of 

 irregularity. A tree upon one side of the house was 

 opposed by another vis a vis, and a row of trees at the 



* The unique ideal of the " Garden of Eden," by one of the old Dutch 

 Dainters, with sheared hedges, formal alleys, and geometric plots of flowers, for 

 the entertainment of our first parents, is doubtless familiar to our readers. 



