^Evolution of Iborticulture 



vance of luxury, the Lucullian gardens 

 are counted the noblest the emperor has. 

 Tubero the stoic, when he saw his build- 

 ings at Naples, where he suspended the 

 hills upon vast tunnels, brought in the 

 sea for moats and fish-ponds round his 

 house, and built pleasure-houses in the 

 waters, called him Xerxes in a gown. 

 He had also fine seats in Tusculum, bel- 

 vederes, and large open balconies for 

 men's apartments, and porticos to walk 

 in, where Pompey, coming to see him, 

 blamed him for making a house which 

 would be pleasant in summer but unin- 

 habitable in winter ; whom he answered, 

 with a smile : * You think me, then, less 

 provident than cranes and storks, not to 

 change my home with the season.' " 



The description of the Roman gardens 

 by Pliny the younger should not be 

 overlooked. In their situation and adorn- 

 ment they equalled and even excelled 

 those of any nation in modern days. In 

 a letter to a friend he describes the char- 

 acteristics of the gardens attached to his 

 18 



