274 SOME GARDEN CONTRASTS 



gardens to India, where the peace and the genius 

 of the Mughal Badshahi can be still traced in its 

 baghs. 



Since the faU of that Empire, raids and 

 wars, years of unstable government and adverse 

 European influences, have all but destroyed 

 Indian gardening. Only in Rajputana and the 

 lesser Native States something of the old skill 

 lingers, something of the old fire smoulders. 

 There it awaits the coming Indian renaissance. 

 Whence wiU it come, that fresh breath which 

 will blow the embers into flame ? From new 

 Japan ? From the vast, slowly awakening bulk 

 of China? Or from England? The British 

 Badshahi which maintains the necessary peace, 

 so far has lacked the intuition and taste to lead 

 Indian art, and to trust to Indian craftsmen. 

 But a love of nature generally, especially of 

 flowers, is as much a national characteristic 

 of the English as of Indians. Surely a fresh 

 and brilliant chapter of Indian art and garden 

 history should open at the Delhi of King 

 George. 



In the words of the town planner's recent 

 report, " Delhi once more is to be an Imperial 

 capital, and is to absorb the traditions of all the 



