178 



GARDEN CRAFT IN EUROPE 



eighteenth centuries, and every garden of importance had its orangery. 

 The cultivation was brought to great perfection, and Dutch oranges are 

 said to have been not inferior to those of Spain. There are many v^orks 

 treating of the cultivation of oranges in Holland, but the most important 

 is Jan Commelyn's Nederlantze Hesferides, published in 1676, v^hich 

 was translated into English in 1683 as " the Belgick or Netherlandish 



Hesperides " ; it has a collection of 

 engravings of the many varieties of 

 oranges, lemons and citrons in cultiva- 

 tion. Dutch methods soon spread 

 to England, and until recent years, 

 some of the orange trees brought 

 from the Loo were flourishing at 

 Hampton Court. 



The Dutch summer house 

 (zomerhuis), or gazebo (illus., pp. 170, 

 177), is a characteristic feature in 

 every garden, and great variety is 

 shown in its design. It is usually 

 built of brick or stone, panelled in 

 wood, and often with a fireplace. 

 Whenever the house is situated 

 near the high road or canal it 

 is sure to be placed in a position 

 from whence the passing coach or 

 post-boat may be easily hailed. In 

 the long summer evenings the men 

 bring their pipes here and the 

 ladies their needlework. Often 

 in the neighbourhood of large towns the citizens would erect such gazebos 

 upon some little patch of ground outside the town, to which they could 

 retire with their families after the business of the day and criticise the 

 passers-by. These little buildings are quite a characteristic feature, and 

 often have quaint names or mottoes inscribed over their doors, bespeaking 

 content or comfort on the. part of the owner. Thus amongst others we read 

 Lust en rust, Pleasure and ease ; Wei tevreden, Well content ; Nood gedacht.^ 



iiii«§liliS7;:f?ag-:.i' 



AN EIGHTEENTH-CENTURY GAZEBO. 



