3 6 THE GARDENS OF EPICURUS 



contrary, the more northern climates, as they suffer 

 little by heat, make little provision against it, and 

 are careless of shade, and seldom curious in foun- 

 tains. Good statues are in the reach of few men, 

 and common ones are generally and justly despised or 

 neglected. But no sorts of good fruits or flowers, 

 being natives of the climates, or usual among us ; (nor 

 indeed the best sort of plants, herbs, salads for our 

 kitchen-gardens themselves) and the best fruits not 

 ripening without the advantage of walls or palisadoes, 

 by reflection of the faint heat we receive from the 

 sun, our gardens are made of smaller compass, seldom 

 exceeding four, six, or eight acres ; enclosed with 

 walls, and laid out in a manner wholly for advantage of 

 fruits, flowers, and the product of kitchen-gardens in 

 all sorts of herbs, salads, plants and legumes, for the 

 common use of tables. 



These are usually the gardens of England and 

 Holland, as the first sort are those of Italy, and were 

 so of old. In the more temperate parts of France, 

 and in Brabant (where I take gardening to be at its 

 greatest height) they are composed of both sorts, the 

 extent more spacious than ours ; part laid out for 

 flowers, others for fruits ; some standards, some 

 against walls or palisades, some for forest-trees and 







