Persian Gardens 



After what I have said of the number and beauty 

 of the flowers in Persia, one might easily imagine 

 that the most beautiful gardens in the world are to 

 be found there; but this is not at all the case. 

 * * * The Gardens of the Persians consist com- 

 monly of a grand alley or straight avenue in the 

 centre, planted with plane * * * which divides the 

 garden into two parts. There is a basin of water in 

 the middle, proportionate to the garden, and two 

 other lesser ones on the two sides. The space 

 between them is sown with a mixture of flowers in 

 natural confusion, and planted with fruit trees and 

 roses ; and this is the whole of the plan and execution. 

 They know nothing of parterres and cabinets of 

 verdure, labyrinths, terraces and such other orna- 

 ments of our gardens. The reason of which is, that 

 the Persians do not walk in their gardens, as we do ; 

 but content themselves with having the view of them, 

 and breathing the fresh air. Sir John 



Exclusiveness in a garden is a mistake as great 

 as it is in society. Alfred Austin. 



The Dutch style of laying out gardens, r introduced 

 into England by William III and Mary, is not unlike 

 the French, but everything is on a smaller, almost 

 too minute a scale; and much care is expended upon 

 isolated details and ornaments (often trivial), such 

 as glass balls, coloured sands and earths, flower-pots 

 innumerable, and painted perspectives; and the 

 garden is usually intersected with canals degenerating 

 into ditches. Grassy slopes, green terraces and 

 straight canals are more common in Holland than 



