Bvolution of Iborticulture 



but new fruits, vegetables, plants, espe- 

 cially various flowers, were introduced 

 into Britain from foreign countries. An 

 increased taste for the art was also shown 

 by the enlargement and the greater num- 

 ber of the pleasure gardens and grounds, 

 which although still exhibiting the 

 formality and stiffness which character- 

 ized them, and which continued even up 

 to the eighteenth century, nevertheless 

 presented much that was pleasing in their 

 general features, especially when seen in 

 connection with the architectural style 

 of the day. 



Previous to the middle of the sixteenth 

 century, the writings of several literary 

 men upon subjects pertaining to the art 

 of horticulture had served to awaken and 

 increase the interest in this among the 

 people of Britain. During the two fol- 

 lowing centuries, especially in the Eliza- 

 bethan reign, a host of authors appeared, 

 whose works are chiefly the results of 

 their own investigations and experience 

 as practical gardeners, botanists, herbal- 

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