604; The Flo*wer-Garden. 



Parnassus, which consists of a grotto, or shell-house, on the summit of the 

 hill, wherein are divers contrivances and water-works to greet the spectators.' 



" Of Cardinal Richelieu's gardens, at Ruelle, he says, they are so magni- 

 ficent, ' that I doubt whether Italy has any exceeding them for varieties of 

 pleasure. The garden nearest the pavilion is a parterre ; having, in the midst, 

 divers brass statues perpetually spouting water into an ample basin, with other 

 figures of the same metal ; but what is most admirable is the vast enclosures, 

 and a variety of ground in the large garden containing vineyards, cornfields, 

 meadows, groves (whereof one is of perennial greens), and walks of vast 

 lengths, so accurately kept and cultivated, that nothing can be more agreeable. 

 Here are also fountains that cast water to a great height; and large ponds, 

 two of which have islands, for harbour of fowls, of which there is great store. 

 One of these islands has a receptacle for them, built of vast pieces of rock, 

 near fifty feet high, grown over with moss, ivy, &c., shaded, at a competent 

 distance, with tall trees : in this the fowls lay and breed. We then saw a 

 large and very rare grotto of shell-work, in the shape of satyrs, and other 

 wild fancies. At going out, two extravagant musketeers shot us with a stream 

 of water from their musket barrels.' 



" Of the gardens of the Luxembourg, he says, ' The parterre is, indeed, of 

 box, but so rarely designed and accurately cut short, that the embroidery 

 makes a wonderful effect to the lodgings which front it. The walks are exactly 

 fair, long, and variously descending ; and so justly planted with limes, elms, 

 and other trees, that nothing can be more delicious, especially that of the 

 hornbeam hedge, which, being high and stately, bursts full on the fountain.' 

 And Mr. Neill says, these are adorned with many fine orange trees, statuary 

 ornaments, and a large circular piece of water, which adds to the embellish- 

 ment. The summer orangery is adjoining ; and statues and vases of marble, 

 placed at intervals, encircle both. Geraniums, in pots, are placed in the vases, 

 so that the pots are hid or disguised, the plant appearing to grow in an elegant 

 vase, and its foliage and flowers are directly contrasted with the white marble. 

 The collection of rose trees is extensive, and planted in formal squares, like a 

 London sale nursery." 



This is, no doubt, pleasant enough I'eading ; but will it give 

 to the reader, whether an amateur or a practical gardener, any 

 idea of the mode of laying out and planting a French parterre? 

 Will it, to use the language of the author's prospectus, " ex- 

 plain, in language clear and intelligible to all capacities, the 

 principles of taste which ought to guide the amateur or profes- 

 sional gardener in laying out and planting his grounds " in the 

 French style? A writer who is master of his subject does not 

 require many words to convey its characteristic features to the 

 mind of another ; and, had the author really known the points 

 which constitute the difference between a French flower-garden 

 and every other, he would, doubtless, have stated them. Perhaps 

 we shall be told that he has given a plan to illustrate the French 

 style ; but this plan, which is a copy from Le Blond (whose 

 work we have now before us), and so bad a copy that it does 

 not distinguish turf from dug beds, is not accompanied by a 

 single word of description ; and, indeed, had the compiler given 

 Le Blond's description, it would have shown how very unsuit- 

 able the plan made choice of is for such a publication as the 

 JFioxver-Garden. Le Blond speaks of his design as one of the 

 most magnificent parterres that can be executed, and only to 

 be carried into effect in a large square space, &c. Besides this 



