388 Imperial Gardens of Taurida. 



The garden was planned and superintended by "William 

 Gould, from Lancashire, who displayed great judgment in 

 forming the ponds, out of which he got sufficient materials 

 to make the agreeable variety of swells and declivities which 

 are seen in Taurida Gardens. The ponds are well supplied 

 with water, which is brought upwards of twenty miles in a 

 small canal, cut by Peter the First, to supply the fountains 

 in the summer garden of Petersburgh. The gardens of 

 Taurida being adjacent to a large reservoir, a small con- 

 duit was cut from it to supply the ponds and cascades, after 

 which it falls into a small rivulet, and is conveyed under 

 ground to the river Neva. The grounds consist of a pleasure- 

 garden [a a a), small park, or enclosure for grazing (b), re- 

 serve ground, nurseries, &c. (c c), and forcing gardens (d). The 

 pleasure-garden begins at the palace by walks leading round 

 the pond, which forms the main body of water seen from the 

 palace, and from thence round the park, which is fenced off 

 on one side by a cheval de frise, and on the other side by a 

 winding canal which separates the reserve grounds from the 

 pleasure-garden. Over the canal are bridges, leading to the 

 nursery and forcing garden. Some of these (Jigs. 105. and 

 106.) are of cast iron, ornamented with gilt ornaments, and 

 considered handsome. The hot-houses, of which I have al- 

 ready sent you plans, are of great extent, and contain pines, 

 vines, peaches, apricots, plums, cherries, and figs ; there are 

 also flower-houses, and a large orangery, with melon, water- 

 melon, and pine pits. The nursery, or reserve ground, con- 

 tains flowering shrubs which bear this climate, such as Cy- 

 tisus supinus, Sambucus racemosa, Genista tinctoria, Potentilla 

 fruticosa, Syringa vulgaris, Robinza caragana, &c, Cratas'gus 

 coccinea, Cotoneaster vulgaris, Hippophse rhamnoides, Loni- 

 cera tatarica, Cornus alba, and various species of Spirae'a. 



The following is the general distribution of the Taurida Gar- 

 dens : (Jig. 104.) 



1. Palace. 11. Entrance of the Park. 



2. Great Hall. 12, 12, 12. Sunk Fence which sur- 



5. Winter Garden, or Conservatory. rounds the Garden, Park, and 

 4. and 5. Iron Bridges in the Plea- Nursery. 



sure-Ground (Jigs. 105. and 106.) 13. Wooden Bridges. 



6. Boat-House. 14. Entrance of the Water into the 



7. Entrance of the Water by the winding Canal which separates 

 Conduit. the Nursery from the Park and 



8. Small Canal separating the Plea- Pleasure-Grounds. 

 sure-Ground from the Park. 15. Nursery. 



9. Fence separating part of the 16. Cherry-Shed. 



Park from the Pleasure-Ground. 17. Green-house, Forcing and 



10. Park. Flower Houses. 



