34 MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



runners of those typical of the great Renaissance which in turn 

 leads us down to the gardens of modern Europe, many of the best 

 examples of which are but those of the great Renaissance period 

 I deserved more or less carefully to the present day. From a geo- 

 graphical standpoint we must consider the wide variation in the 

 topography of the different garden spots on the continent, ranging 

 from the rugged landscape of Italy to the great flat expanses of 

 country seen throughout France. This topographical variation had 

 its marked influence on the general design of the gardens laid out in 

 these different countries. Last but not least, the political influence 

 brought to bear by the different rulers — emperors, popes, cardinals, 

 and kings — effected the development of this art in a way little 

 dreamed of by the superficial observer. This influence was most 

 marked in Italy from the days of ancient Rome up to and through 

 the period of the high Renaissance, extending well into the 16th 

 Century; there being but one notable illustration in the French 

 history, namely, the Great Gardens of King Louis the 14th, sur- 

 rounding the palace at Versailles. 



Now that I have defined the influential factors to be kept in mind 

 during this discussion, let me say that while it is no difficult task 

 to study the modern gardens of our own country and from that 

 study to formulate well-marked conclusions upon the existing and 

 the growing tendencies of the profession today, I freely confess that 

 it is with a great deal more difficulty that one is enabled to formulate 

 conclusions concerning the status of the foreign art. To study 

 continental gardens and their relation to the growth of this art, it is 

 necessary to confine ourselves not alone to the modern practice, 

 but to turn back into the pages of history for authentic information. 

 Strange to state the more we delve into the history of the subject 

 the better informed we become with reference to its status as existing 

 in Europe today. This is not often a generally accepted fact, 

 but to the careful observer it at once becomes a stern reality. 



It is my intention in the following discussion to confine my 

 thoughts specifically to two great nations, a study of the gardens of 

 which practically covers the field of continental gardening. These 

 countries are Italy and France, in which the art has had its most 

 marked development. It is from these countries, too, that the 

 other countries probably have obtained their inspirations for the 



