THE GARDENS OF ITALY. 133 



ing like sentinels about the house, here and there an olive, orange 

 or lemon tree, and an abundant growth of figs and grapevines. 



In Rome the villas average larger; they are more elaborate and 

 contain a greater variety of trees, shrubs, and plants. The cele- 

 brated Villa Borghese is a beautiful public park with fine drives, 

 interesting groves of umbrella pine, hedges of ilex and boxwood, 

 the latter frequently forming a background for statuary. It is well 

 kept and contains numerous elaborate flower beds. Flower beds 

 are frequently arranged with a statue for a centerpiece. Such a bed 

 in the Borghese has for its center an unknown statue found in the 

 Forum; for its edging coral rock, inside of which were planted 

 rows of white-leaved gnaphalium, pink ivy-leaved geraniums, and 

 white Paris daisy, in the order named; behind these followed blue 

 ageratum, balsams, scarlet salvia, African marigolds, cannas, 

 dahlias. New Zealand flax, and Abyssinian banana. The only 

 thing Italian in character in such a flower bed is the statue in the 

 center; the floral treatment is borrowed from western Europe and 

 is quite out of place. In Rome there are many beautiful water 

 gardens and one is often surprised at the great effects produced with 

 a comparatively small flow. 



In southern Italy a large portion of the villa is generally devoted 

 to fruit culture, especially figs and grapes. The latter are supported 

 on live elms or poplars whose trunks and short pruned limbs serve 

 as trellises. 



Florence undoubtedly holds first place for beautiful environment 

 and fine villas. The famous Boboli garden of the Medici family 

 is one of the largest and best preserved. It is entered through an 

 avenue arched with ilex trees, leading to a vast amphitheatre at the 

 rear of the Pitti Palace. It contains many fine avenues which are 

 perfectly straight, and to me much less interesting than the beauti- 

 ful Rampa farther up the hill. The Rampa is a public driveway 

 leading along the face of the mountain, lined on both sides with 

 charming villas, and commanding a fine view of the city and its sur- 

 rounding mountains. Its culminating point, the Piazza Michael 

 Angelo, a magnificent terrace affording a commanding view of the 

 vast amphitheatre-like landscape in the city of art, forms the arena. 



In Florence and northwards, garden arrangement has suffered 

 encroachment of the ideas of western Europe, and it is only in the 



