228 A HISTORY OF GARDENING IN ENGLAND 



gardens in the Guardian, with some more cutting remarks on the 

 fashion of " verdant sculpture." He supposes that " an emi- 

 nent town gardiner "... who has " arrived to such perfection, 

 that he cuts family pieces of men, women, or children in trees," 

 has sent him his catalogue of greens for sale. A most witty 

 list of trees follows. Among them are " Adam and Eve in 

 yew, Adam a little shattered by the fall of the tree of know- 

 ledge in the great storm ; Eve and the Serpent, very flourishing. 

 St. George in box, his arm scarce long enough, but will be in 

 condition to stick the dragon by next April ; A green dragon of 

 the same, with a tail of ground-ivy for the present. (N.B. — 

 These two not to be sold separately.) Divers eminent modern 

 poets in bays, somewhat blighted, to be disposed of a penny- 

 worth. A quickset hog, shot up into a porcupine, by its being 

 forgot a week in rainy weather." In the beginning of the Essay 

 from which the above is taken, Pope quotes Homer's description 

 of the garden of Alcinous, in the Odyssey, and gives his own 

 translation of the passage : 



" Close to the gates a spacious garden lies, 

 From storms defended and inclement skies ; 

 Four acres was the allotted space of ground, 

 Fenc'd with a green inclosure all around. 

 Tall thriving trees confess the fruitful mold, 

 The red'ning apple ripens here to gold. 

 ***** 

 Beds of all various herbs, for ever green, 

 In beauteous order terminate the scene." 



If such was Pope's ideal garden, it had little in common with 

 the landscape style he helped so much to bring in. " How 

 contrary to this simplicity is the modern practice of gardening !" 

 he continues. " We seem to make it our study to recede from 

 Nature, not only in the various tonsure of greens into the most 

 regular and formal shapes, but even in monstrous attempts 

 beyond the reach of the art itself. We run into sculpture, and 

 are yet better pleased to have our trees in the most awkward 

 figures of men and animals, than in the most regular of their 

 own." No one, even the most ardent advocate of the formal 

 garden, can deny that Pope and Addison had much right on 

 their side. But there was no reason to rush to the other 



