In My Vicarage Garden 



grand style of flower-books became the fashion, 

 chiefly in France and Holland. The books were 

 simply picture-books, but the plates were beauti- 

 fully engraved on copper, from perfect drawings, 

 the flowers being often of the natural size. I 

 allude to such books as the Theatrum FlorcE, 

 Florilegium Renovatuvi, Jardin du Roy, and above 

 all the Campi Elysii, which I have already named. 

 These are fine folios, but there are some others of 

 a smaller size, such as the Hortus Floridus, with 

 exquisite engravings by Crispin de Paas of flowers 

 arranged in their seasons. But I will say no more 

 of these beautiful books, as I wish to confine my- 

 self to English works ; but every lover of flowers 

 would do well not to let any opportunity slip of 

 securing these books. 



There are two very special pleasures in looking 

 through old books of flowers. One is the pleasure 

 of finding that, except in really very few instances, 

 the same flowers which now delight us were the 

 delight of our fathers and grandfathers. It is 

 almost amusing to read of prizes and first-class 

 certificates being given to plants as novelties, 

 which may be found well figured in the old books. 

 The Campi Elysii is a case in point. There is no 

 reason to suspect the absolute fidelity of the plates, 

 and there are narcissi there equal to or better than 

 any of the fine ones which have been produced in 

 late years as novelties ; and in the same book 

 there are many others which are quite lost to us. 

 Another pleasure is the recalling to our memory 

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