XX 



RISE AND PROGRESS 



raged horticulture in that country and in Norway, before 

 whose time little progress had been made in either country 

 in any branch of agricultural science. At a subsequent period, 

 Charles the Twelfth procured several plans from the celebrated 

 French gardener, Le Notre, and various kinds of trees and 

 plants were sent from Paris to Stockholm. The greater part 

 of our common culinary vegetables are now cultivated in 

 Sweden, and even in many parts of Lapland, where the cli- 

 mate is not too inclement. 



About the beginning of the eighteenth century, Peter the 

 Great of Russia, applied himself to the study of horticul- 

 tural science, as well as to that of the other arts which were 

 introduced into this country by that great man, and which laid 

 the foundation of the present power and prosperity of that ex- 

 tensive empire. Peter seems to have adopted, the geometric 

 style, or that which had been previously the style of the gar- 

 dens of Pliny, and in this undertaking he was probably 

 assisted by Dutch gardeners, whose method he had seen and 

 approved during his residence in their country. The Empress 

 Catherine, towards the latter end of the same century, intro- 

 duced a more modern style, in which she appears to have given 

 the preference to the English, for which purpose she procured 

 an English gardener, who only a few years ago returned from 

 Russia, and died in his native land at an advanced age. 



Catherine the Second established the first botanic garden at 

 Petersburg, for the use of the Academy of Sciences ; and it 

 was under the auspices of this Empress that the celebrated 

 gardens of Peterhof and Zsarkoe-Seloe were established. In 

 point of extent and ornamental decoration, the former stand 

 unrivalled, and will remain a perpetual monument of the 

 power and perseverance of man in combating, and eventually 

 overcoming the numerous obstacles which Nature frequently 

 throws in the way of the accomplishment of his plans. 



The climate of Russia is not favorable for horticultural pur- 

 poses, but it is astonishing to observe the quantity of fruits 

 and vegetables which are annually reared in the Russian 

 hot-houses. 



English gardening was introduced into Poland about the 

 end of the eighteenth century, by the Princess Isabella 



