4 o THE GARDENS OF EPICURUS 



the fires and steams of so vast a town, makes fruits, as 

 well as corn, a great deal forwarder than in Hampshire 

 or Wiltshire, though more southward by a full degree. 



There are, besides the temper of our climate, two 

 things particular to us, that contribute much to the 

 beauty and elegance of our gardens, which are the gravel 

 of our walks, and the fineness and almost perpetual 

 greenness of our turf. The first is not known any- 

 where else, which leaves all their dry walks in other 

 countries, very unpleasant and uneasy. The other can- 

 not be found in France or in Holland as we have 

 it, the soil not admitting that fineness of blade in 

 Holland, nor the sun that greenness in France, during 

 most of the summer ; nor indeed is it to be found but 

 in the finest of our soils. 



Whoever begins a garden, ought in the first place, 

 and above all, to consider the soil, upon which the 

 taste of not only his fruits, but his legumes, and even 

 herbs and salads, will wholly depend ; and the default 

 of soil is without remedy : for although all borders of 

 fruit may be made with what earth you please (if you 

 will be at the charge) yet it must be renewed in two 

 or three years, or it runs into the nature of the ground 

 where 'tis brought. Old trees spread their roots 

 further than anybody's care extends, or the forms of 



