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From the reign of Edward III. to the 

 accession of Queen Elizabeth, the art of 

 gardening advanced gradually but stead- 

 ily, in spite of the opposition presented 

 by foreign and civil war, by the crusades, 

 and by the tastes of the people for hunt- 

 ing and chivalry. Attempts at embel- 

 lishment were at first limited to the space 

 within the glacis of the castellated dwell- 

 ings, or at most to the immediately ad- 

 jacent grounds, and consisted of a few 

 flowers, of trees and shrubs cut into fan- 

 tastic shapes, together with labyrinths 

 and bowers. Botany, as a systematic 

 science, could scarcely be said to exist 

 previous to the days of Elizabeth, but 

 now, aided by other arts and sciences, 

 rapid steps were tending to the attainment 

 of a knowledge so essential to horticul- 

 ture. A praiseworthy example had pre- 

 viously been set in this direction by 

 several continental powers who had 

 established public gardens and founded 

 professorships for the purpose. Not only 

 the study of botany was thus encouraged, 

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