582 GARDENS OF VARIOUS NATIONS. 



it was there that he died. The grounds are laid out in terraces, 

 in brilliant parterres of flowers, and vases are interspersed in every 

 part. Lorenzo de Medici here grew exotic plants which he pro- 

 cured from the East. From this garden is obtained a ,splendid 

 view of the city, of the olive-trees, and of the Apennines beyond. 

 Another of the favourite residences of Lorenzo de Medici — who con- 

 tributed to a great extent to the rise of the art of gardening and 

 of horticulture throughout Italy — was situated also at a short distance 

 from Florence. At this " Villa Mozzi " is still shown the terrace where 

 that wonderful patron of learning delighted to walk and admire the 

 glorious view which it presents. At no great distance from these 

 is the villa of Palmieri, celebrated by the poet Boccaccio as the scene 

 of the curious story of a Certain number of ladies having, during the 

 plague of 1348, here resorted and given themselves up to every 

 kind of pleasure, thereby endeavouring to drive the thought of 

 death from their minds. A high-flown description of this garden is 

 given in " Rienzi " in the chapter entitled " The Flowers amidst the 

 Tombs." I will mention one more garden at Florence which belonged 

 to Prince Demidoff, and which is attached to the most magnificent of 

 villas. This garden is of considerable extent, and is kept up in a truly 

 regal style. A very large number of hothouses and conservatories, and 

 a splendid collection of plants, especially of orchids, are here grown. 

 In one of the conservatories I saw a very pretty mode, which is 

 quite worthy of being copied, of arranging cut flowers. These were 

 placed in a saucer of water sunk deeply into rock-work. They were 

 then covered with a pan of water having a flat plate-glass bottom, so 

 that the flowers were seen through the water and the glass, and 

 appeared to be growing at the bottom of the water. 



At Rome are also many beautiful villas and gardens. The Quirinal 

 Palace gardens are extensive, and when I had the pleasure of seeing them 

 they were well kept up. In them is a curious hydraulic apparatus 

 for playing an organ. This is not only to be seen in that garden, 

 for at Trascati, Belvidere, belonging to Prince Borghese, water is 

 employed for many curious devices, such as making the warbling of 



