THE GARDENS OF THE MIDDLE AGES 



23 



that a look-out might be kept in all directions. It 

 was not until the seventeenth century was well 

 advanced that the moat could be dispensed with in 

 safety. Old plans of the castles of Commines and 

 Viniers show the gardens beyond the outermost forti- 

 fications, connected with the ramparts by a bridge, 

 and laid out in geometrical patterns. Frequently 

 these outside gardens were left quite undefended or 

 at most protected by a slight wall or palisade. 



The development of gardening in Italy during the 

 middle ages generally followed the lead of France. 

 The incessant wars, resulting in the mingling of so 

 many different nations on Italian soil, ravaged the 

 length and breadth of the country and hardly per- 

 mitted the same development of horticulture that 

 we see in the more northern parts of Europe. It is 

 not until the latter half of the thirteenth century, 

 when Pietro Crescenzi compiled his great work, Opus 

 Ruralium Commodorum, that we have any very definite 

 account of garden design. 



The work of Crescenzi was by far the most 

 important treatise upon agriculture produced during 

 the middle ages, and stands quite alone in the litera- 

 ture of gardening ; it was founded upon the works 

 of the ancient agrimonists, Cato, Varro and Colu- 

 mella and on the author's own personal observation. 

 It remained in manuscript for more than a century 

 and a half and was first printed in 1471 in Latin, but 

 was afterwards translated into Italian, French and 

 German. The eighth chapter treats of the laying out 

 of gardens, which the author divides into three classes. 

 Firstly, he deals with small herb gardens, under which 

 term he includes small orchards, and gardens of fruit 

 trees and herbs pleasing to the sight. After giving 

 minute directions as to the preparation of the soil, he 

 recommends that the garden be square. In its bor- 



FIFTEENTH-CENTURY 

 GARDEN FROM THE 

 GRIMANI BREVIARY. 



