1881.] TRANSACTIONS. 41 



its progress and distinctive character in tliose nations wliere it 

 has been most successfully practiced. 



Among the oldest gardens of which we have any record are 

 those of the Egyptians. Our knowledge of them is derived for 

 the most part from the paintings and sculptures of Thebes. 

 Their arrangement would be hardly consonant with modern 

 taste. They were usually in the form of a quadrangle, with a 

 vineyard in the centre also in the form of a quadrangle. 

 Around the outer quadrangle were rows of Sycamores and Date 

 Palms planted alternately. Tanks of water were constructed at 

 regular intervals, near which, and fed by the moisture therefrom, 

 were tufts of papyrus. Although it is said that the ancient 

 Egyptians were fond of llowers, and that wreaths and chaplets 

 were common among them, there is a singular absence of plants 

 and flowers in the representations of their gardens to be found in 

 their ancient ruins. But there ^5 evidence that the topiarian art 

 or custom of pruning or trimming trees into fantastic shapes was 

 not entirely unknown to them. 



Some of the great nations of antiquity like Babylon and Assy- 

 ria were renowned for their stupendous gardens. Tlie hanging 

 garden of Babylon was ranked among the seven wonders of the 

 world. It was built by Nebuchadnezzar for the gratification of 

 his Queen, that she might have something to remind her of the 

 mountains of her native country. It was built in the form of a 

 square, the base of which occupied four acres, and was composed 

 of terraces which rose one above the other until the highest over- 

 topped the walls of the city three hundred feet high. These ter- 

 races were built up with huge stones, provided with sloping paths 

 which reached the summit, and planted with trees and shrubs so 

 as to give it the appearance of a mountain. At the base of the 

 garden flowed the river Euphrates, or rather a canal from that 

 river, and an aqueduct was constructed so as to convey the water 

 from this canal to the top of the highest terrace for purposes 

 of irrigation. Large hqllow piers were built and filled with 

 mold to provide sufficient earth and moisture for the support of 

 the largest trees. 



At Nineveh gardens were laid out within the city walls, some 

 of them being of considerable extent. In the British Museum 

 are bas-reliefs representing apparently the gardens of the Assy- 

 rian Kings dating back to at least 1200 years before Christ. 

 These show Vines, Palms and other trees, and a plant in full 

 bloom. Upon one of them is a representation of an Assyrian 

 bower composed of Vines, in which sits the king of Assyria and 

 his Queen. 



