BOOK I. 



GARDENING IN RUSSIA. 



57 



canals, and walks, adorned with numerous buildings, a rich collection of exotics, and most 

 extensive hot-houses of every description. Their grand feature, in Potemkin's time, was 

 the conservatory, or winter-garden (Jig, 22.), attached to the palace. The plan of this 



part of the building is that of a semicircle, embracing the end of a saloon, nearly 300 feet 

 long. It is lighted by immense windows, between columns, has an opaque ceiling, 

 and is at present heated by common German stoves. It is too gloomy for the growth 

 of plants, but those grown in the glass sheds of the kitchen-garden are carried there, sunk 

 in the ground, and gravel-walks, turf, and every article added, to render an illusion to a 

 romantic scene in the open air as complete as possible. The effect was, after all, it is 

 said, never satisfactory but when illuminated. This palace, the original exterior of 

 which was in a very simple style, and the interior most magnificent, is said to have been 

 the design of Potemkin, but it was entirely re- modelled at his death by Catherine, used 

 as barracks by Paul, and is now very imperfectly restored. (Ed. Encyc. art. Landscape 

 Gardening. ) 



This winter-garden or conservatory, so much spoken of, is thus described by Storch : " Along one 

 side of the vestibule is the winter-garden, an enormous structure, disposed into a garden, only separated 

 from the grand hall by a colonnade. As, from the size of the roof, it could not be supported without 

 pillars, they are disguised under the form of palm-trees. The heat is maintained by concealed flues placed 

 in the walls and pillars, and even under the earth leaden-pipes are arranged, incessantly filled with boil- 

 ing water. The walks of this garden meander amidst flowery hedges, and fruit-bearing shrubs, winding 

 over little hills, and producing, at every step, fresh occasions for surprise. The eye of the beholder, when 

 weary of the luxuriant variety of the vegetable world, finds recreation in contemplating some exquisite 

 production of art : here a head, from the chisel of a Grecian sculptor, invites to admiration ; there a 

 motley collection of curious fish, in crystal vases, suddenly fixes our attention. We presently quit these 

 objects, in order to go into a grotto of looking-glass, which gives a multiplied reflection of all these won- 

 ders, or to indulge our astonishment at the most extraordinary mixture of colors in the faces of an 

 obelisk of mirrors. The genial warmth, the fragrance and brilliant colors of the nobler plants, the volup- 

 tuous stillness that prevails in this enchanted spot, lull the fancy into sweet romantic dreams ; we imagine 

 ourselves in the blooming groves of Italy ; while nature, sunk into a death-like torpor, announces the 

 severity of a northern winter through the windows of the pavilion. In the centre of this bold creation, 

 on a lofty pedestal, stood the statue of Catherine II., surrounded by the emblems of legislature, cut in 

 Carrara marble. It has been thrown out of the building on its being made into barracks." 



The gardens at Potemkin's other residences, as well as many imperial and private gardens in Russia, 

 were laid out by Gould, a pupil of Brown. Sir John Carr relates an anecdote on Gould's authority, which 

 was confirmed to us, in 1813, by the present gardener, Call, his successor, and deserves a place here. In 

 one of the prince's journeys to the Ukraine, Gould attended him with several hundred assistants, destined 

 for operators, in laying out the grounds of Potemkin's residence in the Crimea. Wherever the prince 

 halted, if only for a day, his travelling pavilion was erected, and surrounded by a garden in the English 

 taste, composed of trees and shrubs, divided by gravel- walks, and ornamented with seats and statues, all 

 carried forward with the cavalcade." On another occasion, " having accidently discovered the ruins of 

 a castle of Charles XII. of Sweden, he immediately not only caused it to be repaired, but surrounded by 

 gardens in the English taste." (Carr's Baltic, &c.) 



260. The most extensive seats laid out in the modern style, in the neighbourhood of 

 Moscow, are those of Gorinka, a seat of Count Alexy Razumowsky (Jig. 23.), and ' 

 Petrowka, a seat of Petrowsky Razumowsky. The former is remarkable for its botanical 

 riches, and an immense extent of glass. The grounds are of great extent, but the sur- 

 face flat, and the soil a dry sand. A natural forest of birch and wild cherry clothes the 

 park, and harmonises the artificial scenes. The mansion, built by an English artisan, is 

 highly elegant; and the attached conservatories and stoves, and decorated lawn, form 

 a splendid and delightful scene, unequalled in Russia. 



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