viii INTRODUCTION. 
4 
beasts,, and the cn ps grown therein were the vine, fig, pome- 
granate, walnut, pee medlar, and quince ; lettuce, endive, 
cucumbers, onions, leeks, garlic, and melons; and roses 
galore. In the hot, dry climate of Palestine watering was 
an indispensable operation, and hence reservoirs and con- 
duits for irrigating the land had always to be provided. 
In ancient Persia and Assyria gardens were fashioned and 
maintained on an elaborate style in the neighbourhood of alk 
great cities. Not only were all the choicest of the native 
flora utilised in their adornment, but others obtained fron» 
far-off climes. The famous Hanging Gardens of Babylon 
were the wonder of the then civilised world. These consisted 
of no less than twenty plateaux, rising one above the other, 
and resting on walls 22ft. in thickness, and each planted with 
trees or other vegetation, kept in constant growth by artificial 
watering. In Egypt, too, gardens were elaborately fashioned, 
sculpture and masonry entering largely into their formation 
and decoration. In these they grew every kind of fruit, 
vegetables, and flowers, all of which had to be unceasingly 
watered by irrigation from the Nile, or by the hand of the 
slave. 
MEDIAEVAL GARDENING. 
The Grecians also were famous gardeners. They seem to 
have taken special delight in having fine expanses of beautiful 
greensward, studded with statuary and pavilions, and fur- 
nished with shady groves. Fruit trees were lavishly culti- 
vated, and lilies, narcissi, and roses grown in profusion im 
these gardens. Not less magnificent and less regal in splen- 
dour were the Roman gardens. The Romans, indeed, were 
keen gardeners, and grew many of the popular vegetables of 
the present day with great success. Moreover, they fully 
understood the art of manuring and forcing, and may be said 
to have brought the arts of horticulture and agriculture to 
their highest perfection at that period of the world’s history. 
In China, Mexico, and in India, too, gardening was a popular 
pastime with rich and poor long before the Christian era. 
So far as our own country is concerned, there is little doubt: 
that we owe the early introduction of horticulture, and its 
sister art agriculture, to the Romans. When they had finally 
subjugated the ancient Britons, and peace prevailed, history 
tells us that the Roman settlers planted vineyards and 
orchards of apples, pears, figs, mulberries, etc., as well ag 
grew corn, not only for home use, but also for exportation. 
