GENTLEMEN ADVENTURERS 47 



preferred rather than "an orbicular, or triangular or 

 an oblong," was "because it doth best agree with man's 

 dwelling." Invariably they were enclosed, sometimes 

 with brick or stone, sometimes with a paling, again 

 with a hedge. Brick or stone walls were usually cov- 

 ered with rosemary, which is one of the things that 

 Josselyn, writing from New England, says "is no 

 plant for this country." This popular usage of it at 

 home accounts for his special mention of it as unfit 

 here. It quite possibly may have been in some Vir- 

 ginia gardens, however. 



The terraces were sometimes retained by a stone 

 wall; or again they were simply the grassed slope 

 which we commonly see now. In either event they 

 were broad and splendid, and aflForded delightful 

 loitering-spots where the garden's beauties could be 

 enjoyed. The open walks were made of gravel, sand 

 or turf, usually, though some were planted with fra- 

 grant herbs," "bumet, wild thyme and water mint" 

 being pronounced by Bacon the choicest of all when 

 trodden on. "Shade alleys" also sometimes ran beside 

 the gardens, and a walk between high clipped hedges, 

 or between its wall and a hedge, was often introduced. 

 These, being less open to sun and air, were always of 

 gravel or sand. 



We have all, I think, fallen into the error of sup- 

 posing that the designs executed in boxwood and com- 



