produced, even where much money and thought have 

 been expended, are not altogether satisfactory; and 

 some critics have thence inferred that the Italian 

 garden is, so to speak, untranslatable, that it cannot 

 be adequately rendered in another landscape and 

 another age. 



* * * It is, of course, an exaggeration to say that 

 there are no flowers in Italian gardens; but, to enjoy 

 and appreciate the Italian garden-craft, one must 

 understand at the outset that it is almost independ- 

 ent of floriculture. 



The Italian garden does not exist for its flowers; 

 such flowers as it contains exist for it. 



Edith Wharton. 



An Englishwoman's Italian Garden 



I am really as fond of my garden as a young 

 author of his first play, when it has been well received 

 by the town. * * * I have made two little terasses, 

 raised twelve steps each, at the end of my great walk ; 

 they are just finished, and a great addition to the beauty 

 of my garden. * * * I have mixed in my espaliers 

 as many rose and jessamin trees as I can cram in; 

 and in the squares designed for the use of the kitchen, 

 have avoided putting anything disagreeable either to 

 sight or smell, having another garden below for 

 cabbage, onions, garlic. All the walks are garnished 

 with beds of flowers, besides the parterres, which are 

 for a more distinguished sort. I have neither brick 

 nor stone walls: all my fence is a high hedge, 

 mingled with trees; but fruit is so plenty in this 

 country, nobody thinks it worth stealing. Gardening 

 is certainly the next amusement to reading ; and as 

 my sight will now permit me little of that, I am glad 

 to form a taste that can give me so much employ- 

 ment and be the plaything of my age, now my pen 

 and needle are almost useless to me. 



Lady Mary Worthy Montagu. 



