ON VEGETABLE GARDENING. 203 



government escort, their precursors remained for a 

 considerable time in the country, and could conse- 

 quently examine things at their leisure and in compa- 

 rative freedom. 



From the earliest times the Persians have been 

 great gardeners ; but historians and travellers have 

 only thought deserving of their notice gardens which 

 have been constructed for the pleasure of monarchs, 

 or as proofs of their wealth and power. 



That the Greeks also took pleasure in horticultural 

 pursuits we have the direct testimony of Theophrastus 

 and Aristophanes. Flowers were always in great re- 

 quest among them. At convivial meetings, at public 

 festivals, and in religious ceremonies, the presence of 

 these was always required. To so great an extent 

 was this use of flowers carried, that artists were esta- 

 blished in Athens whose sole occupation it was to 

 compose wreaths and crowns with flowers of different 

 species, each of which was understood to convey some 

 particular mythological idea. 



The Romans, amid all their conquests, never forgot 

 to forward the useful arts of life, but carried with 

 them into other countries such as they already pos- 

 sessed, while they showed themselves to be willing 

 learners of others which they found established and 

 which were new to themselves. It is fortunate for 

 the interests of humanity that the benefits which they 

 thus became the means of disseminating were in 

 their nature such as would soften and repair the mise- 

 ries occasioned by the sword ; and that these benefits 

 have remained to bless the countries which their armies 

 overran. 



It may be supposed that an art which was capable 

 of ministering so greatly to their personal gratification 

 as that of vegetable gardening would not be neglected 

 by the Romans. Columella has given a very con- 

 siderable list of culinary plants which they pos- 



